Blackpool's reliance on EU import trade highlighted in business survey

The Confederation of British Industry said the numbers show the importance of a good Brexit deal with the European Union, which must put services “at the heart” of future trading.

Opposition parties are urging the Government to seek an extension to the current transition period in light of the “catastrophic economic impact” of the coronavirus outbreak.

Data from the Office for National Statistics, published for the first time, shows Blackpool imported services worth £33m in 2017, excluding travel.

This means EU trade made up 31.9 per cent of services, with the rest of the world responsible for the remaining £72m.

In total, the UK’s services trade with the bloc was worth £87bn in 2017 – 48 per cent of international services imports.

The CBI said services were “essential to our prosperity in towns up and down the country”, though often invisible to our daily life.

Nicole Sykes, the lobby group’s head of UK-EU negotiations, said: “These figures show clearly that trade with the EU, especially in services makes it really important we get a good services deal.

“Services must be at the heart of that because it’s such a national strength.

“We have to protect that in the weeks ahead as we look to look past coronavirus and think about restarting, reviving and renewing our economy.”

Though the value of the travel industry for Blackpool is not available, figures show it was the largest type of EU service import to the North West, and is worth £3.56bn. This was followed by manufacturing, with a value of £1.29bn.

The Brexit transition period is due to finish at the end of 2020, but any extension request would have to happen before the June 30 deadline.

A government spokesman said that since 2000, UK imports of services from the rest of the world has increased faster than those from the EU.

He added: “As a new independent trading nation, we will have the opportunity to strike free trade agreements which will be a key driver in levelling up the UK, benefiting every region and nation.

“The transition period ends on December 31, 2020, as enshrined in EU law, which the Prime Minister has made clear he has no intention of changing.”