7. 7. UKIP Wales Debate: The European Union

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:23 pm on 22 June 2016.

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Photo of Mr Neil Hamilton Mr Neil Hamilton UKIP 5:23, 22 June 2016

I’m completely confident that there will be no tariffs on motor car components because—. [Interruption.] Well, let me just give you the facts. We import from Germany 820,000 vehicles a year and we have a deficit in motor car trade with Germany amounting to £10 billion a year. I don’t think that Chancellor Merkel, going into an election in Germany next year, is going to advance the cause of a trade war with Britain as the best way for her party to win. [Interruption.] Matthias Wissmann, the president of Germany’s automotive industry association says:

‘Keeping Britain in the EU is more significant than keeping Greece in the euro.’

They’re interested in selling German cars to us just as much as we are interested in selling British cars to them. German engineering exports to Britain are £7 billion a year. Car exports are £18 billion a year. So, I don’t think that there is going to be any trade war between Britain and Germany. I give way.