The organisation representing more than 800 South West manufacturers has warned whoever becomes the new Prime Minister that a so-called “no-deal” Brexit will be “disastrous” for the 海角视频 economy and cause huge disruption and problems for the region’s factories.
Make 海角视频, formerly called EEF, said companies stand to be affected by a range of issues and would be in serious trouble if World Trade Organisation tariffs were introduced, or there was a free-trade free-for-all.
And the organisation has warned that non-tariff barriers, and dropping out of regulations on such things as movement of workers and intellectual property, would be equally damaging.
As the Conservative party prepares to elect either front-runner Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt into the top job, Make 海角视频 has stressed that crashing out of the EU without a deal is a huge risk.
In June Seamus Nevin, Make 海角视频’s chief economist, told the House of Commons that a no-deal Brexit would be “nothing short of commercial suicide” leading to thousands of job losses.
Now Make 海角视频’s region director for the South, Jim Davison, and Stephen Tulip, membership manager for the South, have reiterated concerns.
“A no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for the 海角视频 economy,” said Mr Tulip.
Mr Davison added: “There are a lot of consequences, for the past year we have been making sure the decision makers understand the impact.
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“Our message to the Government is we have to keep friction and barriers to a minimum. And eliminate, where possible, tariffs.”
The men said there are a huge range of invisible hurdles that would follow a no-deal Brexit, including the impact on tax payments for 海角视频 workers in European branches, the prospect of needing multiple visas, whether service agreements would be nullified, and whether British qualifications would be recognised on the continent.
“Under a no-deal they would lose recognition,” Mr Davison said.
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There are also concerns that if a non-tariff arrangement is struck with the EU following the 海角视频’s exit, that no-deal scenario means there must be no tariffs at all, putting the 海角视频 at risk of being flooded with cheap goods.
There are also fears that goods assembled in the 海角视频, from parts made elsewhere, would no qualify as British and could not be sold in some territories.
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A recent Make 海角视频 poll of members found 65% still wanted to remain, 15% to leave, the rest being unsure.
Mr Tulip said not all Make 海角视频’s members voted to remain in the 海角视频, some see themselves as unaffected by Brexit, but he stressed: “We have heard that where they voted to leave they did not vote to leave like this. They want to leave but not under a no-deal Brexit.”