BRC: Brexit plan rightly prioritises tariff-free trade

The British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson OBE has called Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit speech today "an ambitious plan with the right priorities".

In her hotly anticipated speech at Lancaster House in London today May said that Britain would leave the single market as part of its exit from the EU but would push for the “greatest possible” access to tariff-free trade with Europe as part of a deal.

"It is crucial that Britain gets a new deal that works for ordinary British consumers, which doesn’t hit them with the costs of new import tariffs at a time when the pound is already weakened," said Dickinson. A number of fashion retailers, mostly notably Next, have confirmed that the slump in sterling's value since the Brexit vote means that prices for SS17 collections and beyond will be higher due to increased manufacturing and buying costs.

"The Government has an opportunity to secure a win-win deal that works for the UK economy, by keeping prices down for consumers, while allowing the EU to continue benefiting from its open-trade relationship with the UK," commented Dickinson.

The rights of EU workers already employed in the retail supply chain is also a hot topic for retailers and Dickinson welcomed May's reassurances in this regard. "Workers from the European Union are part of the reason that British retailers are often able to deliver affordable and high-quality goods. The Government is right to signal reassurance to EU workers throughout our UK supply chains about their right to remain here," she said.

Dickinson also welcomed a "phased" introduction of a new deal which would avoid the so-called "cliff edge" scenario whereby legislation changed overnight. "The number one priority for an orderly exit should be to allow all goods traded between the EU and the UK to be in free circulation," she said.

The BRC represents 90 retail and 80 associate members accounting for 70% of the retail industry by turnover.