SMMT: UK trade policy challenges for automotive supply chains
Trade policy has become an operational issue for automotive supply chains in the UK and EU. Speaking on the Red Sofa at ALSC UK 2026, Alessandro Marongiu, head of trade policy at the SMMT, explains how Brexit, EU industrial policy, tariffs, China, compliance requirements and new trade agreements are reshaping decisions for manufacturers and logistics providers.
For automotive manufacturers, suppliers and logistics providers in the UK, trade policy increasingly influences day-to-day operations as much as production planning or transport capacity.
Speaking on the Red Sofa at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain UK 2026, Alessandro Marongiu, head of trade policy at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), discusses how the UK's trading environment has evolved since Brexit and why companies must now navigate an increasingly complex web of customs requirements, regulatory divergence and geopolitical tensions.
Marongiu explains that while UK-EU automotive trade remains highly integrated, maintaining those flows requires significant effort from manufacturers, customs specialists and logistics providers. He also examines the potential implications of emerging "Made in Europe" industrial policies, warning that overly restrictive localisation measures could disrupt the deeply interconnected UK-EU automotive supply chain.
As global trade becomes increasingly shaped by industrial policy, security concerns and geopolitical competition, Marongiu argues that understanding and managing compliance is becoming a competitive advantage for companies operating international automotive supply chains.
