The Government’s Brexit plans raise serious questions about future trade deals outside EU
WE’VE only had the chance to see carefully-edited extracts of the full Cabinet proposal so far.
However, an early look at the small amount of information the Government has put out leaves me deeply concerned about the nature of our future relationship with the EU.
It raises serious questions about whether or not we will be able to strike genuine and serious trade arrangements with other countries round the world.
My first big worry is the so called “common rule book” for all business, including agriculture.
It doesn’t appear to be a common rule book at all but the UK accepting the EU’s rule book for all existing regulations.
This would lock us into so many of those bad regulations that many small businesses had hoped would be scrapped.
How many times have we heard entrepreneurs like James Dyson complain about the deeply uncompetitive nature of the EU market caused by the enormous level of regulation imposed by Brussels?
Although Parliament might have the final say before new EU regulations are implemented, it appears at first glance that to exercise that new so-called freedom would come at a price.
Perhaps my most important concern is whether we would be able to negotiate proper trade deals with non-EU countries.
The ability to strike new trading partnerships with the rest of the world was to be the jewel in the crown of Brexit.
Exports in the EU apply for only 12 per cent of our GDP, so it’s clear there are even greater opportunities.
This agreement ties us to EU standards, making it impossible for us to strike mutual arrangements on the import and export of goods with other countries.
No self respecting nation will entertain such a deal.
Countries such as the US — the single biggest market and a fast growing one — could well be beyond our reach.
After all, 90 per cent of economic growth over the next few years will be outside the EU.
It would be a poor deal that locked us out of such economic opportunity while ceding control to the EU.
And amid all the spin that is going on around this agreement, don’t forget nothing has been agreed yet.
This is only the start, for even while the Cabinet was meeting the EU made it clear they expect even further concessions.
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How much of what’s left of our original Brexit dream will still exist once the EU start to water this proposal down even further?
As the poll makes clear, the Conservative Government is inextricably linked with delivering a successful Brexit by the British people.
For them, a Demi-Brexit simply won’t do.
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