Committees

Brexit: trade in automotives, aerospace and defence goods examined

3 November 2016

The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee holds a double evidence session with leading industry representatives in the automotive sector and aerospace, defence, security and space sectors as part of its inquiry "Brexit: future trade between the UK and the EU in goods".

Witnesses

Thursday 3 November, Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster

At 10:05am

  • Mr Mike Hawes, Chief Executive Officer, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

At 11:15am

  • Mr Simon Whalley, Head of External Affairs, Royal Aeronautical Society; and
  • Mr Paul Everitt, Chief Executive Officer, ADS Group

Likely questions

The first evidence session focuses on the most pressing issues that the UK automotive industry faces post-Brexit. Questions include:

  • How would tariffs imposed on UK-EU trade affect the industry and its supply chain?
  • What impact could Brexit have on the location of both international and European companies' HQs and on their investment in the UK?
  • What non-tariff barriers and licensing requirements will the automotive industry have to consider after Brexit?
  • How significant is continued or equivalent access to the EU's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with third countries to this sector? Which countries would be the most important for the UK to negotiate an FTA with post-Brexit?

The second evidence session discusses how Brexit may affect the UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. It assesses the importance of maintaining common UK-EU regulations and operating standards within these sectors as well as the significance of continued free trade access to non-EU countries with which the EU has trade agreements. Questions include:

  • How would the imposition of tariff barriers and rules of origin for trade with with the EU affect the UK's aerospace, defence, security and space sectors?
  • What could the Government do to secure the UK space industry's access to EU-funded contracts in the European Space Agency's programmes?
  • Regarding the UK's trade negotiations with the EU and third countries, what are the UK's unique strengths in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors?

Further information

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