"WTO membership gives certainty over trade rules"

Monday 21 October 2019

The extension of World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership to Guernsey has bean lauded by Specsavers, whose Joint CEO says the move is vital ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit.

The States of Guernsey announced at the weekend that when the UK becomes an independent member of the World Trade Organisation on Brexit day, the Channel Islands will be included in that for the first time.

Specsavers Joint CEO John Perkins said that, as a global business, WTO membership brought with it some significant assurances. 

"Over the past few months, Specsavers has been supporting the States of Guernsey in its application for extension of World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership to Guernsey," he said. "So, we are pleased that this has now been accepted ahead of 31 October.

"In these uncertain times, WTO membership means that as a global business we have certainty of the trade rules which will apply in the event of a no-deal Brexit, giving us access to most-favoured-nation tariffs and protecting us from discriminatory trade practices. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of the team at the States of Guernsey who have been determined to make sure that this is in place ahead of Brexit."

Pictured top: Specsavers HQ with, inset, John Perkins.