Headlines
Brexit: It’s happening next month. Currently.
Is there anything new that can be said about Brexit? January was dominated by more turmoil on the UK’s Withdrawal from the EU with the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement and a number of amendments that would have re-shaped the next steps in the process being voted down in the House of Commons.In response, BAB consulted with members on the release of two updated statements, firstly calling for the UK Government to work with all parties in light of the Withdrawal Agreement being voted down and secondly on the Prime Minister’s Updated Statement to Parliament on Brexit. The message is clear and unequivocal: take a ‘No-Deal’ exit scenario off the table and provide a transition period so business can adjust. To do this, all sides in Parliament need to do something they should have done at the start: work together. BAB CEO, Duncan Edwards reiterated this point on the BBC’s ‘Talking Business’
The consequences of leaving without a deal or an arrangement in place are well known, though seemingly not taken on board, and especially acute for our members in manufacturing. They also diminish any resources being available to work on a future UK-US Trade Agreement. With January over, we are are 49 days away from the UK leaving the EU without an agreement and no progress has been made since December. As BAB CEO Duncan Edwards said at the start of January, “Welcome back, nothing’s changed”
You can follow BAB on Twitter @BritAmBusiness and Linkedin here
BAB Host Chair of UK Parliament Exiting the EU Committee
In a timely meeting, the day before a series of voted on potential next steps in the Brexit process, BAB welcomed Chair of the Commons’ Exiting the EU Select Committee, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, to speak with BAB members on the scenarios and potential ways forward for the Brexit process.
The meeting was kindly held by BAB member Hogan Lovells LLP and featured companies from across sectors, displaying the realities of the current uncertainty surrounding the UK exit from the EU.
BAB Briefs Senate UK Caucus on Lessons learnt from TTIP
BAB Director of Trade and Policy, Emanuel Adam, has presented to the Senate UK caucus on lessons learnt from TTIP for trade deal negotiations. The Senate UK Caucus was established in May 2018 by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DL).
BAB USTR submission BAB submitted its response to the USTR’s consultation on the priorities and objectives for a future US-UK Trade Agreement negotiation. It follows on from our submission to the DIT in November for which we expect to hear a Government response soon.
USTR followed up with a public hearing, the transcript for which will likely be available this week.
BAB CEO in Deloitte ‘Power Up’ publication BAB Member Deloitte released their annual ‘Power Up’publication, focusing on the UK’s inward investment environment.
BAB CEO Duncan Edwards gave the ‘view from the US’ which is mixed depending on the sector the firm operates in.
American in Britain Magazine Director of Policy and Trade, Emanuel Adam, has written for American in Britain Magazine taking stock on how the future of the UK-US trade relationship will be shaped by the outcome of the UK-EU trade relationship.
Whilst the efforts of the UK and US Governments have given new energy to their relationship, there is a need to be realistic about what can be achieved through a trade agreement.
Creativity and flexibility are needed when considering what might be possible.
You can follow Emanuel on Twitter: on: @EmanueAdam
Future Transatlantic Leaders BAB was delighted to welcome more university groups for a discussion on the future of the UK-US relationship and how BAB and its members are dealing with Brexit.
In the past twelve months BAB Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Theo Bachrach, has led an initiative to meet with high school and university groups from across the UK and US to engage the next generation on the future of transatlantic relations.
We are deeply grateful to Augustana University, ND and George Mason University, MD for making BAB a stop on their trip.
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