Cefic, CIA hopeful over "not perfect" Brexit deal

London – Chemicals industry groups in the UK and Europe have given a cautious welcome to last week’s EU-UK agreement over a Brexit withdrawal agreement and future political declaration.

Both European industry association Cefic and the UK’s Chemical Industries Association (CIA) now hope that the deal will be voted through in the UK parliaments.

With its commitment to free trade and avoiding tariffs and non-tariff barriers, the deal represents “an opportunity that we must now grab hold of,” CIA chief executive Steve Elliott said in a 17 Oct statement. 

However, the London-based association still needs reassurance that the UK can maintain a strong connection to the EU’s regulatory framework, Elliot adding that “the deal will not be perfect for everyone including ourselves.” 

For his part, Cefic director general Marco Mensink noted reference in the agreement to exploring of “the possibility of cooperation of UK authorities with EU agencies such as the European Chemicals Agency.”

“We are looking forward to an orderly Brexit process that provides for a transition period followed by an ambitious (trade) agreement,” concluded the Cefic leader.