Hard Brexit could damage car, tech and health industries by £17bn, new report reveals

Car makers stand to lose £7.9bn a year if a hard Brexit occurs

A hard Brexit could harm UK car makers, according to a report (REUTERS)

A hard Brexit could be a lot more painful for the UK than for the European Union.

Britain’s car, technology, health-care and consumer goods sectors may lose £17bn ($22.8bn) a year in export revenues when the UK leaves the single market and customs union, according to a report released Monday by Chicago-based law firm Baker & McKenzie and consultancy Oxford Economics.

The sectors account for 42 per cent of the UK’s manufacturing GDP.

The report highlights that the UK-EU trading relationship is sometimes heavily tilted in Europe’s favour. EU countries buy about half of the UK’s exports, while the UK accounts for just 9 per cent of EU goods.

That means if British goods become relatively more expensive, because of tariffs or other regulatory costs proposed as part of a hard Brexit, Europeans could switch to cheaper alternatives and deliver an intense blow to UK exporters.

“You can understand why there is now mounting pressure for the UK to negotiate new customs arrangements for post-Brexit trade with the EU,” Jenny Revis, a Baker & McKenzie lawyer, said in an emailed statement.

“And for companies to work with their industry groups to help shape future trading relations with the EU.”

Carmakers would be the most affected, according to the report.

The industry would lose £7.9bn in annual export revenue due to tariffs that add 8 per cent to the cost of exporting a vehicle to Europe.

An additional 5 per cent would be added for non-tariff measures, such as compliance paperwork.

The consumer goods industry would be the second-hardest hit, possibly losing £5.2bn a year.

The category includes food and drink manufacturers as well as tobacco, clothing and leather product companies.

The report also says rising costs and a possible skills shortage may motivate companies to leave the UK.

Over half the businesses in the UK car sector are owned by non-EU parent corporations while 44 per cent of the healthcare industry is made of non-UK owned companies.

Bloomberg