The clock is ticking on a deal to renew the USMCA, and Whitehall is starting to sweat. Sources in the Department for Business and Trade tell me the fallback planning is frantic. No one wants a repeat of the chaos we saw with post-Brexit customs checks.
But here's the thing: the UK's supply chains are far more exposed than ministers are letting on. One senior official described the situation as 'a ticking time bomb for British manufacturing.' The issue?
The UK has bilateral deals with both the US and Canada, but they don't cover everything. Key sectors like automotive and pharmaceuticals rely on complex cross-border supply routes that could seize up if the North American deal collapses. The mood is grim in the Lobby.
The PM's team is scrambling to get reassurances from Washington, but the Americans are playing hardball. Expect leaks in the next 48 hours. This is not going away.
The backbench is getting twitchy too. They remember the 'chlorinated chicken' debacle. Now it's about British jobs.
This could turn into a full-blown cabinet revolt if the supply chain warnings get worse. Watch this space.
