That's a US trade deal first, an EU trade deal as the priority, and Japan first. And that's just the different government messages this week. When does ambition become confusion? And what's the grand purpose anyway?
Next week we might hear about Australia or New Zealand first...
Next week we might hear about Australia or New Zealand first...
All very well bragging about the number of trade negotiators. But those negotiators need to know there is a central government machinery which takes consistent decisions, and doesn't undermine communications with negotiating partners through clumsy messaging
It would also help if we could distinguish between "keen to do a trade deal with us" (everyone, if it suits them) and "there is a plan that the UK has and this is how everything fits" (not yet in three and a half years).
Further thoughts particularly for those trying to analyse the government's trade policy. First, what are the tariffs? Because that's the start point. Which are kept high and why? Then we know the space we have for preferential access, particularly with agricultural exporters.
Next, what are our offensive interests in trade agreements? What do we get for our exporters (because if nothing, why bother?). Particular agricultural tariffs? Greater access for services, in which case what is it our businesses can't do now that we can get in a deal?
Finally, what are we prepared to offer? Are we offering to accept lower food standards, give greater visa access, or simply reduce whatever our tariffs happen to be? Bearing in mind the read across our trade partners will do - "if they give that to them..."
Make sure there are sufficient stakeholders on side such that getting the trade agreement through is not going to be a political battle (and to help amplify messages to other side), set up the comms and decision making structures, and actual negotiations are the easy bit...
One has always had the sense from the top of the UK government that they want to get to the exciting negotiating bit of trade agreements without having to go through the dull working out what we want stuff... but at what cost to whom? /end
