UK Chancellor Urges EU to Include Britain in Made in Europe Scheme

UK Chancellor John Healey is urging the European Union to include British firms in its planned 'Made in Europe' industrial scheme, warning that exclusion could create new trade barriers and harm integrated supply chains. Healey made the case during an informal meeting of EU finance ministers in Dublin on September 18, 2026, seeking to avoid a repeat of the UK's failed attempt to join the EU's SAFE defence fund. The EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, which includes the 'Made in Europe' framework, is designed to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce dependencies on external powers like China. The proposal would give EU firms priority for public contracts and subsidies in strategic sectors such as automotive, steel, and technology. However, the legislation is still under negotiation, with the European Parliament and Council needing to agree on the final regulation, leaving the treatment of partner countries like the UK open. Healey argued that excluding British suppliers would harm cross-border production networks that both sides rely on, citing that roughly £15 billion worth of British automotive exports go to European markets annually.