In the midst of a week of intensive London meetings can report that government is really stepping up the intensity of preparation and work on negotiations (US, EU, others to come). But a serious risk that the negotiations are mostly on behalf of themselves...
Speak to the sharpest officials and the disconnect between their understanding of business priorities and what is actually in UK mandates (some officials are not so on top of their topic) is stark. Speak to business and the same in reverse - key points not reaching high levels.
Its almost like the content of UK trade deals is irrelevant to the fact of having them or not (with the exception of a handful of the most high profile issues). Does it really matter? Ultimately not sweating detail will cost business competitiveness - but that takes time to show.
And the fact that many organisations standing to be affected by UK trade policy aren't really ready isn't going to help the best officials to make sure the UK is prioritising the right things. In a way this is all just a function of being new to the game.
A government new to the trade negotiating game, talking with our two largest trade partners about completing deals within a year, and it isn't surprising the detail of what's best for the UK isn't really there. But in impact may be more slow puncture than blow-out... /end
