Made in Europe Row Risks Delay To UK-EU Reset

The UK’s next EU reset summit is likely to be pushed back again unless EU partners agree to discuss legislation that could affect how British firms access parts of the bloc’s industrial supply chains, government sources said.

The legislation, labelled “Made in Europe” and formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act, aims to limit China’s growing footprint in European industry. It was not included in the reset plan agreed in London in May 2025 between former prime minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Reset Summit Delayed Unless EU Talks Industrial Accelerator Act

A follow-up summit scheduled for July was cancelled after Starmer resigned. The government is now seeking to adjust the timetable and priorities, with sources saying “Made in Europe should be on the agenda”.

Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister overseeing the reset, discussed the issue with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic during a meeting last week, sources said. It was presented as a key UK priority for the revised roadmap.

On Tuesday, trade minister Anas Sarwar told a meeting of UK business leaders that EU partners needed to understand the risks from Made in Europe. The rules are intended to steer procurement and industrial policy towards EU suppliers in areas including car manufacturing and defence.

Hamish Falconer Tells EU Trade Official New Priority

Government sources said ministers privately fear momentum has slipped since Andy Burnham became prime minister, with attention turning towards domestic priorities. Several elements of the reset remain unresolved, including what tuition fees EU students would pay under a proposed “youth experience” programme.

The government said it will not agree a new summit date until the Industrial Accelerator Act and its wider implications are included in negotiations. It had been discussed that a meeting might take place on 6 November, but sources said it could now move to late November or beyond.

A UK source said the government was prepared to negotiate on issues of particular interest to the EU, but added: “They have to be able to negotiate the thing that matters to us. Made in Europe should be on the table, definitely.”

UK Concern Over Trade Impact As France Pushes Timetable

The UK fears the rules could jeopardise billions of pounds in trade if British goods are not classified as European, potentially excluding them from major contracts on the continent. France, which developed the Made in Europe legislation, is pressing for it to be approved by the end of the year, a move that has heightened concerns among UK manufacturers.

While sources said France is sympathetic to the UK’s position, it is not expected to back immediate concessions. The French view, as described by EU officials, is that intensifying competition from China makes it important to secure the legislation quickly, with allowances for third countries potentially addressed later—an approach that could take years.

An EU diplomat said there is substantial support among key member states for the UK to be included, although not all countries agree. The diplomat said the difficulty lies in how the benefits are perceived, adding that “the UK gets more out of it than the EU”.

Sources said the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Italy support the UK’s inclusion, while France remains unconvinced. Government sources also suggested a deal on Made in Europe could provide leverage for negotiations on youth mobility, a political priority for many EU capitals. Another UK source described agreement as “a good faith demonstration” that further progress could be made on other parts of the reset.

EU Under Pressure Over China Supply Chains; Conservatives Criticise Reset

The UK’s push for manufacturing rules comes as the EU faces pressure from industry to loosen China’s growing role in supply chains. Last week, manufacturing leaders warned of the loss of 300,000 jobs this year unless incentives are introduced to make European products more competitive against cheaper Chinese components.

The EU’s deficit with China is running at about €1bn a day, according to the article, and there are fears that European companies are being “cannibalised” from within.

In a state of the union address to the European Parliament on Wednesday, von der Leyen said the EU needed to increase non-Chinese supplies of rare earths and critical minerals used in manufacturing. She also offered Canada an associate membership model as an example of how Brussels is prepared to deepen partnerships, with a summit between the EU and Canada planned for late October.

Carney, Canada’s prime minister, called for a “unique alliance” with the EU and is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday. The reset talks are also occurring as Burnham meets US President Donald Trump for the first time at the UN general assembly in New York next week.

UK officials said the Conservatives have raised concerns that the EU’s priorities could shift away from the UK’s agenda. On Wednesday, the party said a future Conservative government would build an independent regulatory system. Alex Burghart, deputy leader, and Victoria Atkins, shadow environment secretary, warned that the current plan would reduce Britain’s competitiveness.

A UK government spokesperson said the country “will continue to engage with the EU on Made in Europe” and work “as like-minded partners” to boost growth and trade.

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18 September 2026