Some of the Brexit trade commentary getting a bit confusing I gather, so to try to simplify, the big picture of some of the choices the UK faces...
1/ Which is the most important to the UK, a trade deal with the US or one with the EU?
By some distance the most fundamental question. Politics (US deal) v economics (EU deal). Both want UK alignment of some sort on regulations.
By some distance the most fundamental question. Politics (US deal) v economics (EU deal). Both want UK alignment of some sort on regulations.
2/ What is the UK prepared to concede? This could include import of US food, EU access to UK fishing waters, preferential EU access to UK labour market.
Minimum labour and environment provisions are a given for both EU and US trade deals.
Minimum labour and environment provisions are a given for both EU and US trade deals.
3/ Do the devolved governments (especially Scotland) have any say on the content of trade agreements, especially on food standards?
See blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/publicat…
See blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/publicat…
4/ And for the EU and US, what is their incentive to do a trade deal if they are second in line and can't get what they want on agriculture?
It isn't certain one rules out the other, but it certainly reduces the incentive given agriculture is so central to US and EU FTAs.
It isn't certain one rules out the other, but it certainly reduces the incentive given agriculture is so central to US and EU FTAs.
I think that none of the UK, EU, or US have some great masterplan at the moment. Too many moving parts. The next few months will be lively to say the least. And uncertain. /end
PS this, a very good question.
