Burnham to discuss ‘problem’ Chinese imports in final days of Brexit reset talks

DUBLIN, Ireland — Britain shares Europe’s Chinese import problem, Andy Burnham said Thursday, as he pushes for Britain to be included in the bloc’s Made in Europe rules in the final run-up to Brexit reset talks. The British prime minister argued that Britain and the EU should work together to tackle the challenge posed by China — making the case for U.K. manufacturers to benefit from the bloc’s plans to give European industry preferential treatment.

“On Made in Europe, Europe’s issue is Britain’s issue, which is obviously, particularly imports from China, causing the problem,” Burnham told reporters on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Dublin. His words come after Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Brexit Minister Hamish Falconer traveled to Brussels earlier this week to press for assurances that Britain will be included in the incoming legislation — which risks shutting U.K. manufacturers out of key European supply chains.

Burnham held a series of meetings with European leaders, many for the first time, on Thursday as he sought to build support for a closer relationship with the bloc. “We’ve had a good day but we’ve got a big week ahead of us,” Burnham said. “You know, the deal is not done. There’ll be some long nights ahead in the next seven days.” The prime minister met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. After their bilateral, he said Britain is serious about delivering on its commitment to closer ties — but that the next move is up to Brussels.

“We are, you know, very serious about honoring the manifesto which said deeper ties, and I’m delivering on that. But we have to see what Europe says in response to that.” Next week’s summit is expected to cover a new agri-food agreement, linking the U.K. and EU emissions trading systems, and a youth mobility scheme. But significant hurdles remain, including the terms of any youth mobility deal, Britain’s access to the EU’s Made in Europe initiative and a potential reduction in tuition fees for EU students studying at U.K. universities.