Time to bust a Brexit myth
A: Why can't we replace trade with the EU with trade with the rest of the world?
B: The world's huge. That's a problem because stuff has to go by sea, which takes a long time
A: How long?
B: 10-30 days to USA, 19-29 days to India & 23-25 days to China.
A: Why can't we replace trade with the EU with trade with the rest of the world?
B: The world's huge. That's a problem because stuff has to go by sea, which takes a long time
A: How long?
B: 10-30 days to USA, 19-29 days to India & 23-25 days to China.
A: Hmm. What about the EU?
B: We can drive stuff there in a few hours. Ferry or Channel Tunnel, then keep going.
A: We could fly stuff over instead!
B: No. We currently move 177 times less by air than by sea. There's no way to make a meaningful dent in such a huge difference.
B: We can drive stuff there in a few hours. Ferry or Channel Tunnel, then keep going.
A: We could fly stuff over instead!
B: No. We currently move 177 times less by air than by sea. There's no way to make a meaningful dent in such a huge difference.
A: I have a cunning plan... What if we called on the plucky RAF to help?
B: Good thinking. Unfortunately they'd only be able to move 1.2% of everything the UK imports. And that's with its entire transport fleet working 24/7.
A: Doesn't sound like much.
B: You're right, it's not.
B: Good thinking. Unfortunately they'd only be able to move 1.2% of everything the UK imports. And that's with its entire transport fleet working 24/7.
A: Doesn't sound like much.
B: You're right, it's not.
A: But don't we already do half our trade outside the EU?
B: Yes. It's all stuff that can cope with a long sea crossing. But things like food and flowers and car parts for just-in-time production can't wait anything like that long. They need to be here pronto, immediately.
B: Yes. It's all stuff that can cope with a long sea crossing. But things like food and flowers and car parts for just-in-time production can't wait anything like that long. They need to be here pronto, immediately.
A: You're just trying to make this difficult.
B: No, geography does. The EU will always be near. Everywhere else will always be far. The best free trade agreement in the world won't shrink the distance between us and our non-EU markets. Invent a teleporter, or give up arguing.
B: No, geography does. The EU will always be near. Everywhere else will always be far. The best free trade agreement in the world won't shrink the distance between us and our non-EU markets. Invent a teleporter, or give up arguing.
Did you enjoy that? I put the boot into two dozen Brexit myths in "Slaying Brexit Unicorns". The book's available now on Amazon Kindle and soon in paperback...
amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Z1FTRQW/…
amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Z1FTRQW/…
