North Wales Minister: “The last thing that businesses need is for the UK to crash out without a free trade agreement”

It is absolutely crucial the UK Government secures a free trade agreement that works for the economy of Wales, that is the message from Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales.

Speaking to Wrexham.com last week, Mr Skates called on the UK Government to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union before the end of the transition period.

Negotiations between the UK Government and the European Union are still underway, however a number of sticking points still remain.

With the transition period due to end on December 31, there is still a chance that the UK will have left the EU with a ‘no deal Brexit’.

We asked Mr Skates what discussions and engagement has there been between the Welsh and UK Governments over the negotiations and what preparations are being put in place the for the potential no deal at the end of the year.

Mr Skates said that the pressures of coronavirus have meant that many businesses “simply don’t have the bandwidth, energy and the resources to be able to plan for what happens at the end of 2020 in terms of Brexit.”

He said: “When you’re fighting fire like Coronavirus, you have to put all of your energy resources and you focus on that.”

“The last thing that businesses need is for the UK to crash out without a free trade agreement. That is absolutely vital and necessary, particularly for manufacturing businesses who rely on the market for exports.”

“It’s it’s absolutely crucial that the UK Government secures a free trade agreement that works for the economy of Wales, because if we go into next year without an FTA and are still facing the embers of coronavirus, I really do fear for the viability of many good businesses.”

“I said all through this pandemic that the Welsh Government will do all it can to ensure if you had a good business in 2019, you’ll have a good business in 2021. In order for us to realised that we have to have a UK Government that is willing prepared and successful in negotiating a free trade agreement.”

We also asked Mr Skates what benefits, if any, that he sees for Wales in leaving the EU.

He said: “No deal will be as good as the deal that we’ve had as a full member of the EU and in recent decades.”

“The difference between having a free trade agreement not having one will be substantial indeed. For certain sectors such as automotive, it could be cataclysmic.

“It’s hugely important that the free trade agreement is secured and then we are able to transition businesses into what will be a difficult period.

“But we are determined to to support Welsh businesses, both in financial terms and in terms of advice and guidance and the Business Wales service for enterprises has been crucially important during the coronavirus pandemic. We’ll be refreshing the Brexit Portal that was hosted on Business Wales to give businesses of all types shapes and sizes the best advice and guidance we possibly hope for.”

The in / out Referendum saw 41,544 Wrexham people voting to leave the EU and 28,822 voting to remain part of it – with a whopping 71.6% turnout.