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November 19, 2018 01:00 AM

Brexit chaos looms larger over United Kingdom's rubber sector

European Rubber Journal
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    LONDON—The prospect of the United Kingdom crashing out of the European Union looms ever larger with the Westminster government now in near meltdown over the Brexit deal negotiated with EU officials.

    The proposed "divorce" agreement looks set to to be voted down in the U.K. parliament, leaving a no-deal Brexit as the default option for the U.K.'s departure at the end of March 2019. Such an outcome would represent a worst-case scenario from many millions of people across the U.K. and Europe, including those working in the U.K. rubber manufacturing sector and related industries.

    In the new November/December issue of ERJ magazine, Simon Winfield, chairman of the U.K. Gasket & Sealing Association, explains the challenges that his member companies are already facing due to the increasing uncertainty around Brexit.

    "Attempting to second guess the outcome and having to plan for a 'no-deal' in relation to tariffs and administration when negotiating contracts (…is) proving to be a major headache for members and the industry," Winfield said. "Overall, the fear that the U.K. will simply be ignored as a place to invest by OEM's, and the fear that the U.K. will be seen as a difficult place to do business in as a result of Brexit is high."

    Another area of concern, he said, is "around the risk to cash flow and liquidity should customers delay investment in new activity is high and could be disastrous."

    Meanwhile, U.K. supplier of rubber sheeting and products MacLellan Rubber is increasing stock levels at its warehouse and distribution center to mitigate any risks of Brexit-driven supply issues.

    This, said director Andrew Onions, also would allow for a notice period in terms of costs, which could significantly rise due to further devaluation of Sterling against the Euro.

    MacLellan Rubber, he added, also is in talks with its customers to understand stock requirements and forecasts and with its manufacturing partners in Europe and worldwide concerning future trading relationships.

    The aim, said Onions, is to minimize import duties and taxes, and to delays as a result of extended shipping times and additional export documentation.

    Business model

    Across the water, European automotive manufacturer and supplier groups have jointly warned that a no-deal Brexit "would threaten their very business model."

    To support "just-in-time" and "just-in-sequence" delivery and production, 1,100 E.U. trucks cross the Channel daily to deliver to car and engine plants in the U.K. alone.

    The pressing concern is that after Brexit, hold-ups at customs will cause massive logistical problems, disrupting the production process and generating significant costs.

    "Our members are already making contingency plans and are looking for warehouse spaces to stockpile parts," said Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)

    "However, the space required to stockpile for more than a short time would be absolutely huge—and expensive," Jonnaert said, noting that some ACEA members are also planning temporary post-Brexit shutdowns. "But no amount of contingency planning can realistically cover all the gaps left by the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU on WTO terms."

    ACEA, he said, also is concerned about the 10 percent tariff that would be applied under WTO rules to all cars traded between the EU and the U.K.

    Likewise, Sigrid de Vries, secretary general, European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) has highlighted the need to secure frictionless trade in components that often cross borders multiple times in manufacturing processes.

    "Any change in the level of integration of the value chain will have an adverse effect on the competitiveness of individual companies and the sector as a whole," de Vries said.

    Smaller companies in particular, he warned, lack the internal systems, IT platforms and staff to deal with customs declarations, tariff classification, customs valuation, or calculations based on content origin.

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