I understand the need for business organisations to be on friendly terms with government but I really think they have to be careful joining the fantasy world of this quotes. The UK-Japan deal is neither specifically designed for UK needs or demonstrates UK trade leadership.
https://twitter.com/tradegovuk/status/1351858276493910017
And for the government, yes of course the words of business are nice even if government might have written them, but if they aren't actually true they will prove rather empty when business fails to take advantage.
The UK government's most dangerous and let's face it Trumpian quality is the level of fantasy in statements and PM speeches, like the no barriers to GB-NI trade, or all new trade barriers with the EU are just teething troubles. And yes the new US administration will notice.
One big problem with a fantasy world in which the UK is a free trade leader and our agreements great for UK business is that those of us who say (because we study these things) this is not true become the enemy within. Dangerous territory.
The other problem of course being if you can claim a trade agreement is a great triumph when it is not, why bother with the boring detail of actually finding out what would be good for the UK and negotiating it?
Down to trade twitter and academics to try to keep the government within at least some touch of reality. Which hopefully we'll manage in between trying also to help business navigate the realities.
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