FDF response to European Council Summit in Brussels
20 October 2017
Commenting on the European Council Summit in Brussels, Ian Wright CBE, FDF Director General said: “FDF welcomes the fact that the process is moving forward and the language is positive. However, the pace of the negotiations has not been fast enough and many critical questions about our future relationship remain.
“Food and drink is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. Our trading and regulatory ties with the EU are deeply woven. Over 70 per cent of the UK’s trade in food and soft drink is with the EU.
ldquo;Swift agreement on a transition period which protects the ability of food and drink producers to seamlessly import and export ingredients and finished products is essential. We must have clarity on transitional arrangements by Christmas, otherwise businesses will feel they have no option but to begin to prepare for the worst.”
More information
Contact Matthew Evans, Corporate Affairs Division, at: Matthew.Evans@fdf.org.uk, or (0) 20 7420 7152.