AMSTERDAM: Scottish exports to the Netherlands worth more than £2 billion are at risk because of Brexit, the External Affairs Secretary has said. Fiona Hyslop highlighted the trading relationship between the two countries during a series of engagements in The Hague on Thursday. She was due to hold meetings with the Netherlands Vice-Minister for European Affairs, Thijs van der Plas, and Marjan Hammersma, Secretary General of the Ministry for Education, Culture and Science. The Scottish Government said the latest data shows that in 2015 the Netherlands was Scotland’s second main export destination, worth £2.3 billion and representing 8% of the export total. Ministers argue the UK Government’s plan to leave the European single market and customs union threatens such trade. The UK Government says it wants to negotiate a bespoke and comprehensive trade agreement.
Ms Hyslop said: “Scotland has close cultural links with the people of the Netherlands – and with annual Scottish exports worth in excess of £2 billion passing through Dutch ports, our mutually beneficial economic ties are also very apparent. As I meet with representatives of the Dutch government I will be emphasising our position that, despite the threat of Brexit, Scotland is open for business and we want to continue to have a strong and positive relationship going forward.
