Yesterday I was able to thank the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, for standing by the overwhelming majority of residents in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, by not extending the transition period, confirming we are leaving the EU, deal or no deal, on the 31st December 2020.
Ceramics have a huge opportunity with a UK-USA free trade deal but it is also in our interest and the EU’s, that we have a UK-EU free trade deal, that allows business to thrive and Stoke-on-Trent’s finest like Churchill China able to continue selling in the European market.
I am pleased to hear the government is committed to ensure ceramics is held at the heart of the UK-EU free trade deal negotiations. It is also great to see this government ensure appropriate measures are in place to stop China dumping their cheap and state subsidised ceramics into the UK, which could ruin our local ceramic manufacturers.