Five Years After Brexit, Britain Seeks Re-Entry into “Made in the EU” but Hits a Wall

On September 18, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt visited Ireland and held meetings with finance ministers from EU member states. According to Xinhua News Agency, during these discussions, Hunt urged the EU to include the UK in its “Made in the EU” policy framework and grant British companies “the status of insiders.” This policy, introduced in March this year, explicitly excludes the UK from its list of qualifying countries.

Five years after Brexit, the country that once proclaimed its desire to “take back control” now finds itself seeking access to the EU’s industrial protection mechanism. The shift is striking. “Made in the EU” functions as a protective barrier for European industry, privileging procurement of goods from member states while erecting significant barriers for non-member firms attempting to enter the bloc’s market. UK-based automotive suppliers are already expressing concern over future market access. The departure from the EU was executed decisively—but re-entry proves far more complicated than anticipated.

This situation exemplifies a broader consequence of Brexit. Leaving the single market was intended to restore regulatory autonomy. Yet industrial ecosystems do not disentangle overnight. Supply chains, orders, and customer relationships were deeply integrated with EU systems. As the bloc tightens its industrial policies, British firms are increasingly feeling excluded—losing contracts and clients at an accelerating pace. Hunt’s demand for “insider treatment” ultimately reflects a desire to enjoy the benefits of membership without assuming the responsibilities of it. Whether the EU will accept such a calculation remains uncertain.

Enjoying the political gains of Brexit while simultaneously seeking the economic advantages of remaining in the EU represents a delicate balancing act. Even if the strategy appears logically sound, its feasibility depends entirely on whether the EU is willing to accommodate it. The choice to leave the EU may carry costs that extend far beyond initial expectations. The political rhetoric of the referendum has been gradually eroded by the accumulating reality of industrial reckoning.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876753140065355/

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