The EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ policy spooks British industry

{"text":[[{"start":9.48,"text":"When UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham met French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month, top of his agenda were fears that British industry risks becoming collateral damage from Brussels’ new “Made in Europe” policy."}],[{"start":23.52,"text":"Burnham warned that UK businesses will face “significant problems” from the bloc’s Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which is designed to protect against unfair competition from China."}],[{"start":35.16,"text":"The European Commission hopes the restrictions in strategic sectors will increase the share of EU GDP from manufacturing from 14 to 20 per cent by 2035."}],[{"start":46.12,"text":"But UK industry bodies warn the policy could cut them out of valuable EU supply chains."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":51.88,"text":"In some sectors, non-EU countries that have a trade agreement with the bloc are included in the proposed “Made in Europe” scheme, but with stipulations that worry UK ministers and trade groups."}],[{"start":62.68,"text":"Several EU member states, including France, have argued that the proposed scheme is already too generous to non-EU members, with some warning that full inclusion would undermine the aim of boosting the bloc’s manufacturing capacity."}],[{"start":75.56,"text":"European parliament negotiators unveiled on Thursday a proposal seen by the FT that would limit “Made in Europe” status to manufacturers in the 27 member states, but gives the Commission the right to add additional countries at their discretion, although parliament must approve the legislation."}],[{"start":92.48,"text":"French MEP Christophe Grudler has said this was likely to include the UK, but the lack of a guarantee has compounded uncertainty for British business."}],[{"start":100.84,"text":"Sean McGuire, international director at the CBI, the UK employers’ organisation, said that failure to address growing concerns over the IAA risked undermining the gains from the continuing “reset” of EU-UK trading relations."}],[{"start":115.44,"text":"“Leaving UK access to be decided later, sector by sector, would create exactly the kind of uncertainty and complexity that deters investment and makes European supply chains less competitive,” he warned."}],[{"start":115.94,"text":"Automotive"}],[{"start":127.6,"text":"UK carmakers stand to be the biggest casualty of a “Made in Europe” policy that excludes them from EU subsidies, tax breaks and public procurement schemes that underwrite about 60 per cent of new vehicle sales in Europe."}],[{"start":140.16,"text":"IAA requirements that vehicles should be “assembled in the EU” or made with low-carbon steel would be devastating, said William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce."}],[{"start":151.82,"text":"The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has called for UK companies to be included in the IAA, but the latest drafts of the text still present unresolved issues for the industry, Bain added."}],[{"start":165.08,"text":"Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the UK trade body, warned that the IAA was putting cross-border trade in cars, worth €80bn a year, at risk."}],[{"start":177.8,"text":"“The ‘Made in Europe’ proposals . . . as drafted, result in UK-made vehicles and components being uncompetitive in the EU market, threatening the viability of the UK automotive industry and severely damaging the EU industry itself,” Hawes said."}],[{"start":192.12,"text":"Nissan has warned that its Sunderland plant could be shut if the UK is not fully included in the regulation."}],[{"start":198.32,"text":"With EU companies such as BMW and Stellantis owning large parts of the UK auto sector, the UK government has warned that the IAA, unless amended, would also threaten the €12bn of EU automotive parts exported to the UK every year."}],[{"start":213.32,"text":"Car industry executives in both the EU and UK said they were hopeful the final version of the IAA would be less damaging and allow for “assembly” of vehicles in partner countries."}],[{"start":224.36,"text":"Nuclear energy and green hydrogen"}],[{"start":226.187,"text":"As part of European efforts to cut carbon emissions, the EU is planning a large expansion of nuclear power, which it projects will require €241bn of investment by 2050."}],[{"start":237.72,"text":"This includes small modular reactors (SMRs) in which the UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR consortium is bidding to become a market leader. The company is already working to deploy its reactors in the UK as well as in the Czech Republic and Sweden."}],[{"start":251.56,"text":"The current draft of the IAA would create significant uncertainty over whether the UK industry would qualify to be involved in nuclear projects, many of which rely heavily on subsidies, analysis by the British Chambers of Commerce found."}],[{"start":264.68,"text":"One industry executive said negotiations were continuing over which components in the nuclear supply chain would be protected."}],[{"start":270.66,"text":"The UK is also a major supplier of nuclear fuels to the EU, with exports worth $1.3bn in 2024 — more than half of all EU nuclear fuel imports. The EU and UK are jointly committed to reducing reliance on Russian supplies of uranium."}],[{"start":287.88,"text":"Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said it was important that the final text did not exclude UK suppliers, adding that it would not be “in the interests of EU member states” given the UK’s importance as a nuclear fuel supplier."}],[{"start":303.2,"text":"UK diplomats have written to some EU energy ministers to warn that the current text would exclude UK suppliers from some projects, making the joint transition to net zero slower and more expensive overall."}],[{"start":316.64,"text":"The UK government has also warned that IAA rules, unless refined, could exclude the UK from future investments in green hydrogen — a technology still in its infancy but expected to be fundamental to industrial decarbonisation."}],[{"start":331.72,"text":"Adam Berman, director of policy and advocacy at Energy UK, the industry lobby group, said that barriers created by the IAA risked making the UK less attractive to investors."}],[{"start":342.44,"text":"“It’s just not about denying the UK the ability to participate in the supply chain that exists, but permanently locking it out of a strategic growth opportunity that ideally would be beneficial for both sides,” he added."}],[{"start":342.94,"text":"Chemicals"}],[{"start":354.72,"text":"The UK chemical sector, which is highly integrated into EU industries including automotive, healthcare and defence, has also voiced concerns about the IAA."}],[{"start":365.08,"text":"UK-EU trade in chemicals is worth about £80bn a year, according to the Chemical Industries Association, the UK industry lobby group."}],[{"start":374.08,"text":"Despite changes to the text to recognise “partner countries”, the group warned that not specifically naming the UK would create uncertainty and deter investment."}],[{"start":383.52,"text":"“Failure to secure this commitment runs the very real risk of UK chemical businesses being frozen out of EU supply chains and procurement opportunities,” said CIA chief executive Steve Elliott."}],[{"start":395.24,"text":"The British government has argued that including the UK under the IAA would not amount to special treatment, but reflect the highly integrated economic relationship cemented by the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement."}],[{"start":407.24,"text":"“We will continue to engage with the EU on ‘Made in Europe’ and work together, as like-minded partners, to boost growth and open up trade,” a UK government spokesperson added."}],[{"start":414.92,"text":"The Commission has declined to comment while negotiations on the text are continuing but has previously said that the IAA “fully respects” the bloc’s international commitments and keeps the EU “open to trade” with its partners."}],[{"start":415.42,"text":"Additional reporting Sylvia Pfeifer and Kana Inagaki in London"}],[{"start":434.2,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1789469815_7774.mp3"}