Strengthening Bonds Post-Brexit

20 March 2017


Brexit may mean Brexit, but in the face of global trade trends, rather than loosening ties, the UK and EU timber trades can and should reinforce bonds of cooperation and support, writes Patrizio Antonicoli, secretary general of CEI-Bois, the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries


Will the Brexit process impact relations one way or another between the wider EU timber industry and its UK counterparts, and indeed CEI-Bois’s relations with its member the UK Timber Trade Federation?

For sure something is going to change – but what? Currently it’s hard to identify what the specific critical issues will be. We can only speculate, and speculation doesn’t really help.

What we can safely say though is that it’s broadly going to be about trade. And when we say trade, we mean it in the widest sense.

It’s evident the new American administration is switching to a more protective policy.

The US has already decided to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and to potentially renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Meanwhile the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is at a standstill.

These uncertainties around the TPP after the US withdrawal seem to have pushed Japan to focus on the EU.

EU-Japan trade talks were at an impasse not long ago. But recently they committed to an early conclusion of negotiations, not only looking at tariff barriers, but also Non-Tariff Measures.

At the same time, the EU and Mexico have expressed willingness to accelerate their trade negotiations, while discussions between the EU and the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) are warming up, with a new round of negotiations taking place this month in Buenos Aires.

Moreover, on February 15, the European Parliament adopted the CETA (Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement) between the EU and Canada. This Agreement will come into force provisionally for areas that fall under EU exclusive or shared competences in April.

So almost unexpectedly, the present context is giving the EU a chance to play a more active role in remapping international trade exchanges.

We believe the UK should also seize this opportunity by remaining tied in some way to EU trade discussions, both during the transitory Brexit period and afterwards. CEI-Bois, for one, is definitely offering its UK member the chance to remain in scope.

Beyond Free Trade Agreements, with global discussions focusing even more on wood, it is of utmost importance to participate in the debate around timber trade legality and sustainability.

Certification schemes, such as PEFC or FSC, and ongoing work at ISO level (PC 287), are internationally recognised. Furthermore, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) will continue to impact British traders. Here again, CEI-Bois offers a channel to keep in touch with European authorities and to voice UK needs and expectations.

Last but not least, on key timber and wood-based products standardization work, we may safely assume the BSI and UK industry will continue their involvement in CEN, whatever the outcome of Brexit.

So we in CEI-Bois believe the links and cooperation with our UK member cannot and must not be adversely affected, but strengthened. Only the unity of our diverse wood family membership will ensure our sector a clear, loud and influential voice on the world stage.

Patrizio Antonicoli, secretary general of CEI-Bois, the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries