Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition (in respect of his European Transition responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:30 pm on 7 October 2020.
Thank you, Minister. The recent letter from Lord Frost to car manufacturers, ruling out any third-country cumulations as part of the trade deal, is a hugely concerning development. The sector has already warned of the devastating impact of a potential 'no deal' endpoint, and now it appears they are facing being cut out of any deal that might be possible, as the UK Government pursues other goals. Clearly, car manufacturers are being offered up as a sacrificial lamb by the UK Government, as it flails around for a last-minute deal that is politically palatable to its base support. Will you make the strongest possible case to UK Ministers to immediately put this industry back on the priority list in negotiations, where it should always have been?