Ok, since I've been asked, just a couple of points on a couple of @afneil tweets. On UK-US trade we both think we run a surplus. See ft.com/content/82ebed…. Also, has been described as more an investment than trade relationship (a lot of global trade is intra-company)
@afneil On this one, if we have no deal with the EU we are not 'subject' to the acquis except in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol, but given the 'Brussels Effect' of others following their rules may voluntarily choose to do so
@afneil Final point - much of our future EU trading relationship is likely to be dependent on regulatory arrangements outside of an FTA - for example participating in Horizon science funding, Euratom, European Medicines Agency and so on. Which is all to be determined.
@afneil And another one, as @afneil is attempting unwisely to defeat @alanbeattie in trade commentary. Yes products have to follow EU rules to be exported there. And it turns out, that ends up meaning many of those markets adopt EU rules as their own.
@afneil @alanbeattie Not yet met anyone who thinks the EU holds "all the cards" in the UK negotiation. Think you'll find it was the allegation against British journalists in Brussels and your suggestion of "total regulatory freedom" with no EU deal that were the problem.
@afneil @alanbeattie Original tweet marked up. A fair assessment is that the EU is the larger market more experienced in trade deals, but UK has strengths in fish and financial services, and it all really depends on what it is you want to achieve. On which both sides are weak as it happens. 
@afneil @alanbeattie A point of agreement. I've also put the chances of a UK:EU deal at 50:50. Brussels is indeed concerned about legalism and politics. And the UK by sovereignty and politics. Not much consideration of trade by anyone. It would be harder if there was...
