I await with interest evidence that freeports in the UK will be economically beneficial, not having seen any to date. I'm also interested to see whether trading partners including the EU will definitely include them in trade deals. theguardian.com/politics/2020/…
This is very good and should be watched by media and politicians wanting to know more about free ports, and why their benefits are expected to be minimal.
And trade partners have to define whether to give preferential access to products from free ports - see section from CETA below. Free ports will be outside the UK's customs territory (that being their point) 
The best argument against free ports may be that focusing on these and FTAs takes resource away from focusing on what the UK should be trying to achieve through trade policy. Do something (and where's the business case?) rather than do the right thing.
Hardly encouraging that the Minister sent to discuss free ports in the media doesn't know there are free ports in the EU...
