The EU will offer to include the UK and Japan and dozens of like-minded partners in its “Made in Europe” manufacturing targets, in a bid to shield its strategic sectors from unfair competition from China.
Under proposals unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday, access to subsidies in clean technology, heavy industry and carmaking would be granted to manufacturing in as many as 40 trusted partners including the UK, provided they offer reciprocal access to EU-based manufacturers.
“It’s a change of doctrine that was unthinkable just a few months ago,” said EU internal market commissioner Stéphane Séjourné. “We must support our strategic sectors.”