London — The UK Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has urged the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, to secure a wide-ranging agreement she starts negotiations leading to the UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit).
Speaking immediately after publication of the letter confirming the UK is leaving the EU, CIA chief executive Steve Elliott said: “while we, and others, will scrutinise and try to influence each and every step until beyond the exit, we do want to make sure the government is in the best-informed advised position it can possibly be to conduct a successful exit from the EU.”
He continued: "it is now more important than ever that the government is fully engaged with the European Union, seeks input from all stakeholders and does not allow any short-term political interests to harm the future of UK trade and investment prospects."
Elliott vowed that the Chemicals Industries Association will "continue to work with the government and our partners across the continent to get the best deal for the chemical industry — a deal that will also support many of our customer industries who are dependent on our products and services. There is much more to unite the European chemical industry than divide us, with minimal disruption to our current trading relationship being our collective goal," he added.
Elliott concluded "we also urge patience to make sure we avoid a bad deal or no deal."