Following the official Article 50 notification to the European Council by the UK Government, the formal
UK Exit negotiations are expected to pending the Council Guidelines.
The UK plays an important role for the agri-business sector with agricultural production, trade and processing supply chains highly integrated with the rest of Europe. The maintenance and strengthening of the Single Market is therefore fundamental for the EU traders and operators.
COCERAL, the European grain trade organisation, and UNISTOCK, the organisation which groups operators of stores for bulk agricultural commodities, expect the negotiations to be carried out and concluded in a positive manner; resulting in a balanced agreement which would not jeopardize established and future trade and business relations across the Channel.
COCERAL President Jaana Kleinschmidt stated: “We look to the Council and EU negotiators to ensure adequate access for the UK to the EU Single Market and vice versa, including the prevention of tariffs, indirect taxes or regulatory barriers that could affect the trade and existing good business practices.”
”Businesses wish to see the European Union and the United Kingdom maintain common customs practices and clearance procedures. We ask the Council and Exit Negotiators to take the necessary precautions to safeguard existing integrated supply chains between the UK and rest of Europe, said Gilles Kindelberger, UNISTOCK President.
The guidelines for the exit negotiations as well as on the agreement and arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal and post-exit EU are of utmost importance to COCERAL and UNISTOCK members.
To provide an in-depth analysis to the EU Negotiators as well as to prepare the trade sector for the post-Brexit regulatory environment, COCERAL has established a Taskforce of Experts. The newly established Taskforce will be assessing the market and regulatory developments, and will be delivering policy recommendation along the process.
