CBI responds to comments by Business Secretary

Responding to Greg Clark’s comments on The Andrew Marr Show, Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

“The single most important Brexit priority for British manufacturers is to protect frictionless trade with the EU. Hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK depend on it.

“We therefore welcome the Secretary of State’s recognition that any customs solution must deliver this goal, with no tariffs or additional border checks, delays or red tape for EU/UK exports and imports, which account for nearly half of all UK trade.

“This is a time for pragmatic solutions, not ideology. To protect frictionless trade and ensure no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland, a customs union model based on status quo principles should remain in place unless and until an alternative is ready and workable.”