Asia House Brexit Series: Lord Mandelson

Former European Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson, who is now Chairman of Global Counsel, will brief Asia House corporate members following the historic EU Referendum result last week. Mandelson was vocal in the referendum campaign about his support for Britain to remain in the EU, warning that if the UK chose to leave the EU, it could take up to 10 years to renegotiate a new relationship with Asia and EU member states. So what can be expected in terms of UK-Asia FTAs should the UK trigger Article 50?

Prior to his position as European Trade Commissioner and British First Secretary of State, Mandelson had the following roles in the British Government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 1997 and 2010: Minister without Portfolio; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Northern Ireland Secretary; and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

He was MP for Hartlepool from 1992 until 2004 and Director of Campaigns and Communications for the Labour Party between 1985 and 1990. He became President of the Great Britain China Centre in 2015, a non-departmental public body that encourages dialogue and collaboration between Britain and China. He is also President of the Policy Network think tank chairman of Lazard International.

This event is taking place as part of the Asia House Brexit Series, which will encompass a number of seminars and private briefings. In this series we will monitor developments following the EU referendum with a focus on both the UK’s and the EU’s relationship with Asia both economically and politically. 

This event is open to Asia House corporate members only.

For further information, please contact: Sam Deave, Business & Policy Team at samantha.deave@asiahouse.co.uk or call 0207 307 5454.

Watch a video of Lord Mandelson speaking about renegotiating FTAS with Asian countries in the event of a Brexit at the UK-Asean Dialogue held at Asia House on 13 October, 2015 here.

To read reactions in the Asian media to Brexit click here.