Dutch firms are told not to buy parts from UK

A WARNING by the Dutch government to its country’s manufacturers to avoid components made in the UK is being treated as a ‘high priority’ by British ministers.

The Dutch are reported to have told their businesses they risk losing free trade access to the EU after Brexit if they source too many parts from Britain.

Under EU ‘rules of origin’, at least 55 per cent of a product’s components must come from within the EU if it is to qualify for free trade access.

Treasury Minister Mel Stride said the issue had been raised at the highest levels of Government and that they were ‘confident’ of resolving the issue as part of the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

‘We’ve certainly had in-depth conversations with a number of businesses around this issue of rules of origin. This is very high on our agenda,’ he said. ‘It is an extremely high priority. It is one that I, the Chancellor, the Prime Minister and others are very much engaged with.’

Labour’s trade spokesman Barry Gardiner said: ‘This is a problem for our country. The Government don’t have a plan to deal with this.’