Thread by @hhesterm

The institutional split between EU trade and rest of the world trade, once justifiable because of Art. 50 TEU and the specifics of the Brexit process, makes no more sense in a post Brexit world. But the politics of it ain’t easy /1

https://twitter.com/EmilyThornberry/status/1361340770033270785

First of all with the creation of a separate Brexit process a fiefdom was created. That currently belongs to Lord Frost and Michael Gove. Frost leads the EU-UK relationship. Gove represents the UK on the Partnership Council politico.eu/article/eu-wan…

(The same holds true on the EU side where it’s not Dombrovskis who leads for the EU as Trade Commissioner)

And then there’s the other politics: Trade with the rest of the world is a fantastic portfolio. The continuity program was a success (experts would say) and can be sold as a triumph (that’s the PR angle). All new FTAs will be about improvement. Maybe slow. But still: up.

That is definitely not true about EU trade. The TCA is not a bad FTA given the red lines. But it builds up huge non-tariff barriers compared to the previous intra-EU status.

So kudos to Secretary Truss who has grasped that fate has dealt her a full house. She can live and breath Brexit, none of the downsides are hers. And she slowly progresses to being the most popular Conservative politician.

I should have added this: thelondoneconomic.com/politics/liz-t…