The British International Freight Association (BIFA) and The Freight Transport Association (FTA) have joined other economic organizations voicing their positions on Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s vision for Britain\u2019s future relationship with its European and global trading partners. The BIFA and FTA are underscoring the importance of clear rules of the game, and the industry\u2019s reliance on European Union nationals who \u201cwork as drivers, warehouse operatives and in other key roles across the sector,\u201d said the FTA.
\n\u201cThe Prime Minister\u2019s commitment to maintain the common travel area in Ireland is welcomed by FTA as this is one of the key issues of concern to its members,\u201d the trade group said. They also applauded her commitment to \u201ctariff-free and frictionless trade\u201d with the E.U. and to ambitious free-trade agreements with other global partners. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made clear that the U.K. must forgo its preferential trade treatment if it refuses to accept open borders, raising questions about how May, foreign secretary Boris Johnson, and the newly appointed ambassador to the E.U., Sir Tim Barrow, will finagle that point.
\nThe BIFA cautioned that May\u2019s plan was \u201cshort on the details\u201d and pledged to work with its members as the negotiation proceeds. \u201cOur members across the country over the last few months have been dealing with a lot of uncertainty,\u201d said Robert Keen, director general of BIFA. \u201cThey would have welcomed clarity on the mechanics that will underpin Mrs. May\u2019s desire for \u2018tariff-free and frictionless trade.\u2019\u201d
\nSo far, May has fielded criticism from across the political spectrum for her handling of the disengagement. Sir Ivan Rogers, the former U.K. ambassador to the E.U., urged his staff and successor to challenge \u201cill-founded arguments and muddled thinking,\u201d in a resignation letter that was interpreted as an attack on Downing Street.
\nOn the freight side, Keen stressed that \u201cwhat our members need from government is some answers to those questions. As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. And after today\u2019s much-anticipated speech, much of the real detail is missing.\u201d
\nSource: aircargoworld<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"