The latest opportunity for the world to wonder if the UK is quite ready for trade deals. If Ministers think either that reducing tariffs in a trade deal is "a big concession package" or that it shouldn't happen at all their lack of knowledge is worrying ft.com/content/e583b8…
Rules of Free Trade Agreements, for any ministers happening to be following. They eliminate most tariffs, leaving at most a handful in most sensitive areas. With big trade powers they also involve following their rules hence chlorinated chicken or geographical indications.
I suspect (hope?) the UK government has already worked out in some detail the impact of revised tariffs and trade deals both for UK farmers and on developing countries who already have tariff free access (if they lose out its known as preference erosion). It won't be published.
Then those supporting or opposing particular deals / tariffs etc will put forward their own numbers and seek to influence the government. Which is all perfectly normal for trade deals. Ultimately government then chooses.
Peter's thread on the US tariff story...
