In a defiant speech in Brussels last night, UK #Brexit negotiator David Frost said the UK will never commit to align its laws with the EU's. It would defeat the purpose of Brexit "to claim the right that every other non-EU country in the world has".
But this isn't true. (thread)
But this isn't true. (thread)
The non-EU countries Norway, Iceland and Switzerland (so often pointed to during the referendum as an example of what the UK could be) do not have this "right".
They have chosen to align with EU rules, in exchange for EU market access.
They have chosen to align with EU rules, in exchange for EU market access.
Clearly, Frost meant to refer to countries like Canada or Japan, which have free trade agreements with EU but didn't have to align their laws.
But the UK is failing to understand that those countries are far away. No country in Europe has been given an FTA without aligning rules
But the UK is failing to understand that those countries are far away. No country in Europe has been given an FTA without aligning rules
It is often observed that British people don't think they're in Europe.
But it's a geographic fact, and the EU is concerned that giving market access to a country on its doorstep would provide a deregulated back door for companies to avoid EU law.
But it's a geographic fact, and the EU is concerned that giving market access to a country on its doorstep would provide a deregulated back door for companies to avoid EU law.
The UK is asking to be the first European country to have free trade with the EU without having to align with EU rules.
It's a big ask, one that would require a lot of trust from the EU.
That trust in the British is lacking now. And speeches like Frost's last night don't help.
It's a big ask, one that would require a lot of trust from the EU.
That trust in the British is lacking now. And speeches like Frost's last night don't help.
Take #Russia as an example.
Just like for the UK, the EU is Russia's largest trading partner. But the two don't have a free trade agreement. If the EU were to consider one, they would demand regulatory alignment for two reasons:
1) They don't trust Russia, and two...
Just like for the UK, the EU is Russia's largest trading partner. But the two don't have a free trade agreement. If the EU were to consider one, they would demand regulatory alignment for two reasons:
1) They don't trust Russia, and two...
2) Russia is on the EU's doorstep and has a fairly interconnected economy.
Three EU states used to be the same country as Russia, and a further 6 were in the same bloc. There's no way Brussels would allow an FTA that risked companies using Russia as a deregulated back door to EU
Three EU states used to be the same country as Russia, and a further 6 were in the same bloc. There's no way Brussels would allow an FTA that risked companies using Russia as a deregulated back door to EU
Is London more trusted than Moscow? Absolutely.
But the degree to which that is true today, after three years of #Brexit enmity, can be debated. The issue of EU lack of trust now exists for both the UK and Russia, although to different degrees.
But the degree to which that is true today, after three years of #Brexit enmity, can be debated. The issue of EU lack of trust now exists for both the UK and Russia, although to different degrees.
