空客警告英国无协议脱欧将导致其离开

Airbus Warns It Could Leave in Event of 'No-Deal' Brexit

The chief of Airbus on Thursday warned that the aviation company could move its United Kingdom operations out of Britain. The move might happen if the country leaves the European Union without a deal on trade relations.

Airbus chief Tom Enders said a so-called “Brexit” threatens to destroy a century of development in Britain’s world-leading aviation industry.

Airbus has more than 14,000 employees in Britain. Another 110,000 work in jobs supported by Airbus programs.

Business leaders have expressed growing worry about the lack of progress in securing a Brexit trade deal before March 29, the day of Britain’s planned exit from the EU. They are expecting major problems caused by new taxes, customs checks, and a lack of trade agreements between the U.K. (United Kingdom) and the EU. The EU is the U.K.’s biggest trading partner.

Last week, British lawmakers dismissed the deal Prime Minister Theresa May had reached with the EU. Lawmakers have not yet had success at reaching a different deal.

Enders said Airbus would be “forced to re-direct future investments in the event of a no-deal Brexit.” He added there are “plenty of countries out there who would love to build the wings for Airbus aircraft.”

Enders said in a statement that people supporting Brexit are promising¹ Airbus would never move because it has such a large factory there.

“They are wrong,” he said.

Warnings from businesses have increased in recent days. The warning from Airbus is notable in that it demonstrates a clear willingness to leave the U.K.

The Bank of England has said that, in a worst-case situation, a sudden Brexit with no deal on future relations could lead to a recession. It estimates Britain’s economy could shrink by 8 percent within months.

May has been holding talks with government and opposition² politicians, business representatives and trade union leaders. But she has shown little willingness to make changes to her Brexit plan.

Instead, she hopes to win lawmakers’ backing for her deal. She guaranteed changes from the EU to a much-disputed measure designed to ensure an open border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland.

EU leaders say they will not renegotiate the withdrawal³ agreement.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said, “A deal that doesn’t give us a legally binding⁴ workable guarantee that there won’t be a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is a deal in name only.”

He added: “And that’s not something that we could accept.”

Britain’s divided Parliament is set to vote next week on May’s proposal. They also plan to vote on opposing deals, including efforts by groups of legislators to delay Britain’s exit and to prevent a “no-deal” Brexit from even happening.

May’s government has rejected both ideas. But a growing number of lawmakers believe Britain will have to ask the EU to delay Brexit past March 29 to solve the impasse⁵.

Airbus chief Tom Enders said business leaders could not plan for the future and need clear answers. “But we still have no idea what is really going on here,” he said.

I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

aviation - n. the business or practice of flying airplanes, helicopters, etc.

ensure - v. to make (something) sure, certain, or safe

binding - adj. forcing or requiring someone to do something because of a promise, agreement, etc.

impasse - n. a situation in which no progress seems possible

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

5 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。