Honda leaves the UK and fears a leak of business Brexit "Daily Capital of Mar del Plata

LONDON, England.- Japanese automaker Honda announced Tuesday the closure of its plant located in the West of England in 2022, bringing a severe blow to the British economy at the time of the war. maximum uncertainty due to its imminent departure from the European Union (EU). ).

The decision, which directly endangers the company's 3,500 jobs and possibly many others in its supply chain, was announced by the company during a press conference in Tokyo.

Honda President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo said the decision was not made by Brexit, but in light of what seemed more reasonable for its global competitiveness at a time when it is necessary to accelerate the production of electric vehicles.

However, experts say the Brexit uncertainties have probably contributed to the decision, to the problems facing the auto industry in a more protectionist world and to the slowdown in the global economy.

Although the departure of the UK from the EU is unclear, this will involve at a minimum high tariffs, border controls, higher costs and slower product distribution.

"We still do not know what Brexit will bring in. We have to wait to get a better sense of the situation," BBC quoted Hachigo as saying.

Honda Motor Co. manufactures its popular Civic model in Swindon, 115 kilometers west of London, with an annual output of 150,000 units.

Its restructuring aims to adapt its operations to growing demand from Asia and North America, said Hachigo.

Hachigo announced that the company would begin discussions with workers at the Swindon factory.

"I'm really sorry," he said, adding that "it was the best option in these circumstances."

Thousands of companies have put in place contingency plans for London to break its ties with Brussels in an unregotiated way on March 29, according to the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC).

The UK Parliament rejected in January the exit conditions agreed with the EU. The country will therefore leave the bloc without a transition period within six weeks if it does not ratify a pact or ask for an extension of time, which Prime Minister Theresa May, discard it for the moment.

Honda's plans add to the decision taken this month by Nissan to stop producing its X-Trail model in England and warnings from Ford and Jaguar Land Rover regarding the risks of a no-go negotiated from the EU.

Beyond the automotive sector, Sony has already announced the transfer of its European headquarters to Amsterdam, while the aviation company Airbus has warned that it could pull out of the UK if a hard Brexit was produced and if the Siemens industrial company was planning to reduce investments in the country.

Many UK-based companies maintain international manufacturing chains in which certain components cross the Channel in both directions before being badembled into the final product, so that tariffs and delays at the border may affect their operations. .

Moreover, leaving the EU without an agreement would oblige British companies to trade with other countries in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on less advantageous terms than the current treaties to which the United Kingdom Uni is gone. member of the Community Customs Union.

The British government plans to prepare only 29 trade agreements on March 29 to replace the 40 agreements that the EU maintains, according to media reports, including Chile, Switzerland, the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Like this). English) and the Faroe Islands.

For the moment, it seems beyond the reach of the executive to reach agreements in time with major trading partners such as South Korea, Japan and Canada.