Secretary of State for Transport hosts meeting with industry leaders

MP Chris Grayling (Secretary of State for Transport) hosted a meeting with influencers in the transport industry to discuss how they will benefit from the government’s set plans for Brexit and the EU withdrawal agreement. During the meeting discussions took place describing how the country’s biggest firms will benefit from the agreement and what it will mean for businesses as well as their customers and partners.

Some of the points highlighted during the meeting included:

- Clarification on details for the Withdrawal Agreement
- The implementation time-slot and how businesses can expect to benefit as well as have a sufficient time period to prepare for the changes within the trade industry, giving the opportunity for the UK to negotiate a new agreement that will remain to be beneficial to both the UK and EU.
- The government and EU’s plan to be sure that drivers on both sides will maintain access as part of a long-term deal between both parties.
- The Secretary of State and MP Jesse Norman described a set of precautions the government are placing during the Brexit talks and preparations which should help to lessen the impact the transition will have on the haulage industry should the planned deal with the EU fall through leaving the country in a no-deal situation. 

Here are the members of the industry who attended the meeting:

Road Haulage Association
Freight Transport Association
Kuehne + Nagel
Wincanton
Simarco International
PC Howard Group
McCulla Ireland
Malcolm Group
The Institute of Grocery Distribution
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
Food Storage and Distribution Federation
British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association
Amazon
Eddie Stobart
UPS
St Vincent Holdings

While it seems as though this is a step in the right direction, the PM returned to Brussels to renegotiate terms of the discussed deal, the meeting ended with members of EU negotiations refusing to alter any terms of the deal that were previously discussed during May’s last visit. The PM has stated the deal is currently “at risk”.

Back to news