UK government sources warn that EU legislation known as the 'Made in Europe' law could exclude British firms from parts of European industry and derail a planned reset summit unless the bloc agrees to discuss it.
Key facts
- The 'Made in Europe' law, formally the Industrial Accelerator Act, is designed to curb China's growing presence in European industry, according to the Guardian.
- Government sources say the legislation could lock British businesses out of parts of EU industry.
- The law was not part of the reset plan agreed by former prime minister Keir Starmer and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in London in May 2025.
- Sources say a planned EU reset summit will be delayed again unless the bloc agrees to discuss the issue.
European legislation intended to counter China’s expanding role in European industry could derail a planned reset summit between the European Union and the United Kingdom, according to government sources cited by the Guardian.
The measure, informally described as the ‘Made in Europe’ law and formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act, is designed to curb China’s increasing presence in European industry. But government sources warn that it also poses a risk to British businesses, potentially locking them out of parts of the EU market.
According to the Guardian, sources say the UK government’s EU reset summit will be delayed again unless the bloc agrees to discuss the legislation. The concern, they say, is that the law could shut British firms out of segments of EU industry that they had expected to remain open.
A key issue for the UK is that the legislation was not part of the reset plan agreed between the two sides. That plan was reached by former prime minister Keir Starmer and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at a meeting in London in May 2025.
Government sources argue that the matter must be addressed, framing it as an unexpected obstacle that emerged after the original reset framework was agreed. The report indicates the UK wants the issue placed on the agenda before the summit proceeds.
The Guardian reports that without EU agreement to discuss the legislation, the reset summit faces a further delay, adding uncertainty to the broader effort to rebuild relations between London and Brussels.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights how new EU industrial policy aimed at China could have knock-on effects for post-Brexit trade and cooperation between the UK and the bloc. If the reset summit is delayed, efforts to stabilise the UK-EU relationship could stall, with potential consequences for British businesses seeking access to European markets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'Made in Europe' law?
According to the Guardian, it is legislation formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act, designed to curb China's increasing presence in European industry.
Why does the UK see it as a problem?
Government sources say the legislation could lock British businesses out of parts of EU industry, and it was not included in the reset plan agreed in May 2025.
When was the original reset plan agreed?
The reset plan was agreed by former prime minister Keir Starmer and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in London in May 2025, according to the Guardian.