Brexit: EU more interested in 'control' than money says McBride
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James Ramsbotham, the chief executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, shared his growing anger at the region suffering from EU trade due to the Prime Minister’s “dogmatic attitude”. Mr Ramsbotham said there is a long list of barriers that “ministers failed to sort out” with the EU, such as how to apply new rules of origin that determine which goods qualify as tariff-free, difficulties getting export health certificates and extra checks on goods that create queues at ports.
He added he is has written to Mr Johnson to give the North East his “most urgent and personal attention” – but said he still hasn’t received a reply two weeks later.
He told the Guardian: “This is not teething problems. Our ports face the EU and our region has the highest proportion of any exporting to the EU. It is vital that more barriers come down.
“Many business people in the northeast tell me the only way to improve the situation is to go back into the single market.
“We didn’t say that in the letter because the Prime Minister’s dogmatic attitude to the subject told us it would fall on deaf ears.
“This is not teething problems. Our ports face the EU and our region has the highest proportion of any exporting to the EU.
“It is vital that more barriers come down.”
Mr Ramsbotham also shared his concerns about other businesses in the region being affected, such as the rail manufacturer Hitachi.
He said: “Hitachi bought a site in the northeast with a view to building trains for the whole of Europe.
“The place was big enough for three factories, but they have only built one and the rest of the land is vacant.
“If you want to see where the trains are going to be made for the EU, you’ll need to visit Hitachi’s new factory in Italy.”
The Government has not responded to his claims.
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