UK Chancellor John Healey is expected to approach European Union (EU) finance ministers during a meeting in Dublin this Friday, seeking access to the EU's "Made in Europe" industrial protection scheme, formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA). The IAA is designed to safeguard EU manufacturing by imposing restrictions on goods imported from outside the bloc. Healey aims to strengthen UK-EU collaboration in key areas like technology, defense, and manufacturing, while encouraging the EU to structure the IAA in a way that fosters closer ties rather than creating new trade barriers, according to sources within the UK Treasury. Healey is likely to reference the breakdown of negotiations last year regarding the UK's participation in an EU defense loans scheme. That effort collapsed over disagreements about how much the UK would pay to join. There are concerns in the UK government that the IAA could hinder British businesses from participating in European supply chains. Treasury officials emphasized that Healey seeks to minimize the economic consequences of Brexit and deepen UK-EU relations, but without compromising the UK's interests. In a recent statement, Healey said, "The next chapter of Britain's growth story will be written in more places. To me, closer ties with the EU means British businesses – wherever they are based across the UK – get better access to both the supply chains and the customers they need to grow." Healey plans to focus on tech firms, defense companies, and manufacturing during the Dublin meeting, with a Treasury source noting that the chancellor wants to ensure nothing impedes their progress. This meeting follows a delayed reset summit with the EU, which was postponed after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down as prime minister. Treasury sources now expect the summit to occur in November. In the meantime, Healey is reportedly exploring a potential bid to join the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), a global investment bank aimed at raising funds for defense spending. The initiative, led by Canada, would allow governments to borrow at lower costs to boost military budgets. This comes as Healey faces the challenge of funding the UK’s increasing defense commitments, particularly as he prepares for the upcoming October Budget and the 2024 spending review.