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WSTA: Drinks should ‘lead’ Brexit deals

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association is calling for Brexit ministers to let the drinks industry lead negotiations to ensure the “best possible” free trade agreements with the EU and beyond.

The WSTA is calling for government to begin by focusing on sector specific industry trade

To date, ministers have remained tightlipped over plans for the industry as they devise Britain’s exit from the EU.

At a meeting with the secretary for state for Defra, Andrea Leadsom MP, chief executive Miles Beale presented the WSTA’s Brexit Policy Paper to show the wine and spirit industry is united, has “clear objectives” and is well placed to advise government.

This included a call for British gin to be given protected status in recognition of its quality and global appeal. Gin is the second largest traded UK spirit after whisky with three out of every four bottles of gin imported round the world coming from the UK.

The WSTA is calling for government to begin by focusing on sector specific industry trade. The WSTA Brexit policy paper, titled ‘The road ahead for the wine and spirit industry’, has been drawn up to establish how best to meet and exploit the challenges of leaving the EU.

Beale said: “For a genuinely global industry like wine and spirits, Brexit will bring both challenges and opportunities.

“We understand why government want to keep their Brexit cards close to their chest, but as an industry we hold some very valuable cards and can help Ministers to come up trumps on trade. So we are asking we are asking government to let industry lead.

“A lot of work is going on behind the scenes to ensure that industry is on the front foot to help government to prepare the best possible case for uninterrupted trade with the EU, and the best possible platform for bilateral trade deals with priority countries.

“The size and the contribution made by the wine and spirit industry to the UK economy should not be ignored; and its influence with key trading partners should not be underestimated.”

The UK spirit trade boasts £28.2bn generated in economic activity and more jobs than any other EU county.

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