Brexit and Trade: Between Facts and Irrelevance

This Intereconomics article is available for free at this page after an embargo period of two years. Reading it before then is possible via SpringerLink.This paper examines four claims made by Brexit supporters regarding the United Kingdom’s post-exit arrangement on trade with the EU. It reviews the nature and importance of UK-EU trade links and the possible impact on the UK of leaving the EU customs union.

It argues that all four of the claims are based on incongruous arguments which are either logically inconsistent or ignore the extent of the commitment required by trade agreements that tackle regulatory barriers, not just tariffs and border restrictions.

The authors demonstrate that the attractiveness of the UK market will progressively decline as the UK enters into additional bilateral agreements. They conclude by analysing the implications for the UK of 'taking back control' of its trade policy.

• Primary Source

Intereconomics: Archive http://archive.intereconomics.eu/years/

SpringerLink: Intereconomics http://link.springer.com/journal/10272

College of Europe: Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings, No.42/2016: Brexit and Trade: Between Facts and Irrelevance https://www.coleurope.eu/system/files_force/research-paper/beep42.pdf

ESO: Background information: There’s still a lot to play for: the four elements of a pro-European hard Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/theres-still-a-lot-to-play-for-the-four-elements-of-a-pro-european-hard-brexit/

ESO: Background information: Nothing to declare. A plan for UK-EU trade outside the Customs Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/nothing-to-declare-a-plan-for-uk-eu-trade-outside-the-customs-union/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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