UK fears being frozen out of lucrative ‘Made in Europe’ deals by French

Putting up new “barriers” between the EU and UK will harm European businesses and stop the continent from competing with China, the Business Secretary has warned.

Peter Kyle has pledged to lobby European powers – led by France – not to [shut out Britain from a “Made in Europe” scheme](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-collision-course-eu-breach-brexit-trade-deal-4089175?ico=in-line_link) which ministers fear will slow the progress of the post-Brexit “reset” of cross-Channel relations.

During a visit to Brussels, Kyle has signed a new deal to [co-operate on enforcing competition law](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-set-for-fresh-brexit-reset-battle-to-join-eus-weapons-fund-4207468?ico=in-line_link) to help firms which want to do business in both the UK and the EU.

He said the arrangement would bring “predictability, stability and long-term planning” to international companies and help to grow the British economy.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is [pushing to build stronger ties with the EU](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-cost-uk-universities-cheaper-fees-4202185?ico=in-line_link) – although Kyle said that the British people were “not really nostalgic for the past” before Brexit as he denied trying to turn back the clock.

# BMW worried about barriers, Kyle claims

But during his diplomatic blitz of the bloc’s capital, the Business Secretary also sounded a warning about the dangers that the “Made in Europe” plans might pose.

The policy, which is being led by Emmanuel Macron and a close ally of the French President who serves as the European commissioner for industrial strategy, is intended to prioritise EU businesses for government contracts and subsidies.

Kyle claimed that excluding British firms from the scheme would damage firms which operate across borders.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “I was very struck by the private conversations I’ve been having with manufacturers that are EU domiciled, manufacturers that are operating in the UK, such as BMW, and their concerns over the potential barriers being put up to the smooth functioning of their operations, which, from their perspective, harnesses the best of two distinct territories.”

The minister added: “We are already fully integrated in terms of manufacturing supply chains. And just look at Airbus, for example. Wings for Airbus are made in the UK and the part of the space program for Airbus is made in Swindon.
“So that’s just one example of a pan-European project which includes the UK, but has no bearing on the EU or its membership of the EU.”

He insisted he was not “lecturing or cherry-picking”, adding: “Having two sides that are aligned, that’s where the magic happens. And hopefully you’ve seen from the tone that I’ve taken while I’m here, that I’m really seeking where the alignment is, where the opportunities are.”

Teresa Ribera, the deputy to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, refused to say whether or not the UK would ultimately be included in the “Made in Europe” scheme, joking: “I don’t like spoiling books or films.”

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Why don’t they just call it made in EU?

>BRUSSELS – Putting up new “barriers” between the EU and UK will harm European businesses and stop the continent from competing with China, the Business Secretary has warned.

UK buddy. We have been through this already. You can’t have all the benefits with none of the obbligations.

You are welcome to reapply to EU membership and benefit for that.

it won’t be as good a deal you had, but it’ll be vastly better than having an internal border between northern ireland and the UK mainland.

> Kyle claimed that excluding British firms from the scheme would damage firms which operate across borders.

Well, they can just stop operating in the UK then. How about that, Kyle?

UK wanted to exit Europe. Now they’re the pariah they wanted to be, deal with it. Go, make your trade deals with trump

If it isn’t the consequences of our actions

If the UK government wants to treat EU citizens the same way as everyone else on migration, then the EU should treat the UK the same as everyone else on trade.

Do they imagine all EU provisions and deals include some kind of special exemption for Britain? It’s really difficult to understand the way they think sometimes.

Change the name to made in the EU and you’re fine to exclude us. You’ve called it made in Europe because when consumers see EU they think of bureaucratic over regulated nonsense. But when you say Europe you think of German engineering, British innovation, Italian craftsmanship.

I don’t really care about all the political nonsense surrounding this. It just seems to me naming it in this way and acting like this is uncharacteristically weak of the bloc’s leadership.

From the EU’s perspective, Orban has been a thorn on the union for many years, and Farage being elected in the UK is a very real possibility, so naturally they’re wary of reaching out too much only to be bitten viciously.

I just think there is a false dichotomy being continuously posed here where either the UK is in the EU, or it is treated exactly the same as China & USA. I believe there is some middle ground where both parties stand to gain.

I will happily take flak for holding that opinion, and I was an ardent remainer.

Maybe they should mind less what EU is doing and start focusing on themselves like they said they want to

I hope the Swiss and the Norwegians are also frozen out of these “made in Europe” deals.

The UK and France are about as solid as allies get these days but reading these comments you would think we were about to restart the 100 years war.

Should be “made in EU”