国际英语资讯:Brexit worries, trade war fears may follow good year for UKs manufacturing: analysis_时事

国际英语资讯:Brexit worries, trade war fears may follow good year for UKs manufacturing: analysis

LONDON, July 23 -- British manufacturing has enjoyed good performances over the past 12 months with strong growth driven by devalued sterling and a buoyant global economy, but uncertainties over Brexit and the U.S. trade war are danger points for the coming year, an analysis from EEF, the manufacturers' organization published on Monday showed.

The next year sees the continuation of buoyant growth threatened by the risk of a disorderly Brexit, the emergence of global trade tensions and the relatively weak investment picture caused by Brexit uncertainty.

"We have had a good year of growth reflected in all the regions," EEF chief economist Lee Hopley told Xinhua in an interview.

"The drivers of that growth are the pick-up in the global economy, improvement in commodity prices and an increase in investment around the world -- that means all sectors have had improved output and improved order books."

But Hopley said the strong pick-up in orders and exports had not been matched by a corresponding increase in investment.

"Caution has been the watchword over the past year as we continue to operate with a real lack of clarity about the Brexit end game," she said.

Hopley said that the devaluation of sterling immediately after the Brexit referendum vote in June 2016 had been a boon to some exporters but its effect had waned towards the end of the current 12-month period.

"The devaluation after Brexit has been a benefit for many exporters, not all, but towards the end of the year that benefit has been fading," said Hopley.