Railway Industry Association sets out four ‘asks’ for UK’s future trade policy

27 July 2020

 

The Railway Industry Association, the voice of the UK rail supply community, has set out four key ‘asks’ for Government as the UK looks to develop an independent trade policy. The four asks include:

  1. Rail to continue to be included in the negotiation of free trade deals – UK rail exports are a real growth opportunity;
  2. Access to an appropriately skilled workforce and mobility for skilled UK workers, at all levels, to enable the UK to compete globally;
  3. Consistent application of standards with mutual recognition/equivalence and non-discrimination as core principles in all trade agreements; and
  4. Smooth cross border trade rules – which minimise cost and delay, and avoid trade distortionary tariffs as much as possible.


Damian Testa, Senior Policy Manager at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “As the UK prepares to leave the EU transition period and develop its own independent trade policy, it is worth remembering that the rail industry is a significant UK exporter, selling £800 million each year overseas in goods and services. With the UK currently negotiating Free Trade Agreements with a number of other states, there is the opportunity for the UK rail industry to export even more, but there is also the risk that that barriers to trade could arise through changes in policy.

“The Railway Industry Association is therefore setting out four principles today highlighting what the rail sector needs to flourish in a post-transition environment. This means rail being considered in free trade agreements, ensuring continued access to skilled overseas and domestic workers, the consistent application of standards and smooth cross border trade rules that minimise disruption for rail businesses.

“As we approach the crunch point for talks with the EU and other nations, we ask the Government to consider the role rail can play in developing a ‘Global Britain’.”

Notes to Editors

 

  1. The Trade Asks Briefing can be found here
  2. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.