Maintaining trade links with Europe is vital, says Mersey Maritime CEO
As Britain enters its first week outside the EU, Mersey Maritime CEO Chris Shirling-Rooke says it’s vital we maintain our trade links with Europe as well as striking a deal with the US. Tony McDonough reports
Britain’s maritime sector must continue to build and maintain strong ties with Europe despite the country’s departure from the EU, a sector leader in Merseyside has said.
Chris Shirling-Rooke, chief executive of industry body Mersey Maritime, said it was vital the UK struck a new trade deal with the US as well as with the EU and that it needn’t be an either/or.
This week the UK behind its first week outside the EU for more than 40 years. At 11pm last Friday it finally departed the EU, three-and-a-half years after the public voted to leave in a referendum. There will now be a transition period that will last until December 31.
Mersey Maritime represents Liverpool city region’s powerhouse £4bn maritime sector which had been recognised as the most successful maritime cluster in Europe. The organisation’s hundreds of members includes Peel Ports and Cammell Laird.
Mr Shirling-Rooke has previously said that Brexit represents a huge opportunity for the city region, pointing out that its westward-facing port was in pole position to benefit from a Transatlantic trade deal.
Over the past couple of years he has joined high level trade missions to the US in order to establish stronger economic ties ahead of an expected trade agreement. But, in a message to Mersey Maritime members, he also said continued trade with Europe must remain a top priority.
“For much of last year, the key message around Brexit that I heard was that businesses wanted certainty so they could plan and respond to the challenges and opportunities it presents accordingly,” said Mr Shirling-Rooke.
“Now that the General Election result has provided that certainty and the legislation is in place to bring it about, we must resolutely look to the future. I am determined that Mersey Maritime and the industry here in the Liverpool city region generally plays a full part in driving forward an optimistic agenda for jobs and growth as our country looks to trade globally in a renewed and more independent fashion.
“That’s why we participated in the second UK-US Maritime Nations Forum last November in Washington and why we are delighted to partner with Maritime UK to host a reciprocal visit to Wirral and Liverpool this March.
“As the UK’s leading west coast-facing maritime region, the opportunity here is obvious for us. But we mustn’t lose sight of our colleagues in Europe too, so we are also leading on the second UK-Netherlands Maritime Nations Forum in February over in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
“Members are strongly encouraged to engage in this important ‘trade mission’ work and I look forward to seeing many of you do so.”