Peter Kyle says the public backs a pragmatic reset with Brussels as he signs a new cooperation agreement in the EU capital. The move comes amid discussion of a “Made in Europe” procurement scheme and uncertainty over the future direction of UK-US trade arrangements
The British public is “not nostalgic” for the pre-Brexit past but wants a pragmatic deepening of economic ties with the European Union, the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, has said after signing a new cooperation agreement in Brussels.
Speaking as he formalised closer collaboration on competition policy, Kyle described the deal as “a real vindication of the reset and the relationships that have emerged between the EU and the UK” since Labour came to power. He said the agreement reflected growing alignment on issues such as mergers and acquisitions, following frequent discussions between officials on both sides.
The European Commission’s executive vice-president, Teresa Ribera, called it “a privilege” to sign the agreement, which she said was “reinforcing the current good cooperation” between the EU and the UK.
Kyle argued that public opinion supported a more constructive approach to Europe, suggesting that voters were focused on the future rather than revisiting past arguments. “The public did vote for a government that had a reset with the EU as its core foreign policy in the election. So I think the public has always been looking forward and they’re not really nostalgic for the past,” he told reporters. He added that closer ties with Europe could help drive economic growth.
Among the initiatives under discussion is a proposed “Made in Europe” scheme, expected to be announced next week. The programme would prioritise European products in public procurement contracts. However, questions remain about how much of the content in such agreements would need to originate within Europe. The proposal, led by France within the European Commission, has faced lobbying from critics inside the EU who argue that it risks being overly protectionist.
Ribera said the Industrial Accelerator Act, linked to the procurement initiative, was intended to strengthen the EU’s resilience and reduce dependence on foreign countries, potentially increasing local employment and wealth creation. Asked whether the UK would be included when the scheme is unveiled, she declined to give details, saying she did not do “spoilers”, but added that she consistently supported “friendships, cooperation and enhanced prosperity and fairness for all”.
Kyle said his visit to Brussels was not about demanding preferential treatment. “I am not coming here to lecture or to cherry-pick but to talk about all the inspiring things happening in Britain … particularly when it comes to manufacturing,” he said, pointing to existing UK-EU cooperation on Airbus as an example of practical collaboration.
He also argued that the trade and cooperation agreement negotiated by the former prime minister Boris Johnson was “not comprehensive enough or ambitious enough”, and said it was essential to build on it as both sides faced shared economic challenges.
The debate over the UK’s international trade position was further highlighted by comments from Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, who said that the UK and the EU must go “even further” than the Brexit reset.
Kyle was also asked about the disruption to the UK-US trade deal. He said he hoped there would be “clarity” in the “coming days” from the US administration and that it might return to the principles of the agreement secured last May with Donald Trump.
In Washington, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he intended to maintain the 10% tariff the UK had secured. “The point is to recreate the policy that we’ve developed over the past year, to give continuity and be able to be in a position where we can honour the deals, but also have enforcement available,” he said.
The developments underline the government’s attempt to balance a renewed partnership with Brussels while maintaining stability in its trading relationship with Washington, as it seeks to position the UK within an evolving global economic landscape.
