THE former German ambassador to the UK has branded Brexit a “turning point” as Britain has tumbled down trade league tables.
Peter Ammon told Westminster peers that the UK nosedived from being Germany’s fifth biggest trading partner to its eleventh.
Highlighting that exports from the UK to Germany fell much steeper than imports from Germany, Ammon was critical of the UK Government's approach to post-Brexit arrangements.
He went on to slate the Government's unwillingness to find solutions to trade barriers and exporters’ ability to bring skilled workers from the EU to the UK to fill labour shortages.
Commenting, SNP trade spokesperson Drew Hendry said that Brexit was “not working for Scotland and its industries” and that “the experience of Germany just confirms that”.
He added: “Only last week we learned that Scottish exports had fallen by £2.2 billion since Brexit. It is why only as an independent country can Scotland re-join the EU and begin to flourish.
"For years the most vocal advocates of Brexit continually promised us that German car makers like BMW would force the EU to give Britain a special trade deal but, like every other Brexit promise, it was a shameless lie.”
Hendry went on to say that “untold damage has been done to Scotland’s world-class industries by Brexit” and that it is “all at the hands of the UK Government”.
He continued: “Costs continue to spiral as they have barriers put up to them when trying to export to the biggest single market in the world, the European Union.
“Despite Scotland overwhelmingly rejecting Brexit, we are suffering the consequences of it every single day.
“Westminster control offers no hope to the people of Scotland of a return to the EU as Labour has abandoned us in favour of supporting Brexit alongside the Tories, no matter the economic consequences.
“That is why the only way to protect Scotland’s world-class industries is to become an independent country with a seat at the table in the European Union.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “As an independent trading nation, the UK is pursuing a policy of free and fair trade that is cutting tariffs, lowering barriers, and benefiting Scottish businesses and industries.
“Our trade deals with Australia and New Zealand will cut tariffs for Scottish exporters, and on top of stopping the 25% US tariffs on Scotch whisky, we have also unlocked export markets worth over £100 million for Scottish drinks producers after removing trade barriers across Africa and South America.
“We have already secured trade deals with 71 countries plus the EU, and are now seeking new trade deals with India, the Gulf, Canada, Mexico and Israel, as well as accession to the CPTPP free trade area in the Indo-Pacific – a trade bloc worth £9 trillion in combined GDP.”
