Farage has been an MEP since 1999 but his time in Brussels has taught him nothing about the EU. During his phone in show on LBC, according to this account (HERE) in the Sunday Express, he "poked huge holes" in Airbus' so-called scaremongering. This is laughable. He didn't poke any holes in their warnings about a no deal Brexit, he simply demonstrated his own ignorance and lack of understanding why his life's work could now inflict fatal damage on Britain's aerospace industry.
In response to Airbus' dire warnings he said:
"Where their argument falls to pieces is: aerospace internationally, under World Trade Organisation rules, is a no- tariff regime.
"The UK is a signatory, both as a member of the EU and in its own right, of a 1980 plurilateral agreement called the Agreement of Trade in Civil Aircraft that "eliminates import duties on all aircraft, other than military, as well as on all other products covered by the agreement.
"The 1980 deal also covers engines and parts and components of civil aircraft – including the wings Airbus UK produces in its British facilities".
In the video he punches it all out with absolute confidence and it even sounds as if he's done a bit of research. The only problem is that Airbus' risk assessment (HERE), the document that sparked the whole thing off, doesn't mention tariffs at all!. It isn't about tariffs, it's about non tariff barriers and the certification of people and parts involved in producing Airbus planes. Airbus itself is regulated by The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and as a company isn't affected by our leaving the EU. But many of it's suppliers are regulated by the CAA and they will lose their recognition by the EASA as of the withdrawal date as indicated by the Notice to Stakeholders issued in April (HERE).
The CAA is the "competent authority" in the UK and without an agreement, which is what Airbus is talking about, parts they purchase from UK based, CAA certified suppliers, cannot be fitted. The US engine supplier Farage mentions will have been certified by the FAA, the American competent authority, and the EU and the USA have a bilateral agreement (HERE) which we will no longer be party to after Brexit.
Airbus' reference to the single market and the customs union is about delays at the border and freedom of movement for employees switched between European plants, nothing to do with tariffs.
Farage is a total embarrassment with his stupidity but the Express quote him as if he's an expert. It's hard to know which one is worse.
