Follow Us

Follow us on Twitter  Follow us on LinkedIn
 

27 February 2018

英リアム・フォックス国際貿易相、EU(欧州連合)関税同盟の離脱を主張、残留は国益を害する、域外諸国との新たな貿易機会に注目すべきと発言


Default: Change to:


Any form of customs union with the EU after Brexit would be a "complete sellout" for the UK, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said. A former top aide to Fox warned that quitting the EU would be like "giving up [a] three course meal [...] for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future."


The UK would find itself in a "worse position" than it is now, he said, if it left the existing arrangement but negotiated a similar new one.

Having to accept EU rules and limits on doing other deals would make the UK "less attractive", he said.

But his former top official has criticised the government's strategy.

Sir Martin Donnelly, who was permanent secretary in the Department for International Trade until last year, said any deals done after Brexit would not compensate for leaving the single market and the customs union.

Giving up access to the EU market and its existing trade agreements was "rather like rejecting a three course meal now in favour of the promise of a packet of crisps later", he said.

Sir Martin, who has previously warned about leaving the single market and has worked for the European Commission in the past, said that negotiating full access to the single market without accepting EU rules would require a "fairy godmother specialised in trade law".

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he did "not agree for a moment" with Sir Martin's verdict, because the "real growth opportunities" were outside the EU.

Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a long-term customs union, as Labour has proposed, would lead to "colony status for the UK", which would not get a say in trade policy. [...]

Full article on BBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


© BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation


< Next Previous >
Key
 Hover over the blue highlighted text to view the acronym meaning
Hover over these icons for more information



Add new comment