‘Leaks’ to the press tend to be part of some negotiation and bargaining process, where journalists are used as little pawns in a wider power game, be it internal bureaucratic power tussles or grand international games. Rarely do leaks actually reveal any new substance to, for example, a trade negotiation. This is …
UK trade policy
Blog – WTO report: Brexit casts shadow on trade
The World Trade Organisation released its annual bout of trade statistics and forecasts today. Clearly, the data show that the global slump in trade growth persists, despite prospects for a mild recovery. World trade posted a 1.3 percent expansion in 2016, lower than the 1.7 percent forecast by the …
Brexit comment: Britain gives in
The twenty seven member states of the European Union have shown an unusual level of unity in their general approach to how Brexit negotiations are to be led. As a result, they are already setting the terms of the UK’s EU withdrawal process, which formally began when the UK notified …
Comment: Why the UK should take its time before talking trade with the EU
The UK could end up being grateful to the EU for refusing to talk about their future trade deal just now. This gives Britain some time to start thinking about a real economic and trade policy strategy. By Iana Dreyer.
Blog: EU 27 Brexit guidelines – little but important clues on business and trade
The Guidelines 27 EU member states are giving the European Commission towards the negotiations of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU give little clues at this stage of the process as to where they see future bilateral trade relationship. However, the text, issued two days after Britain formally notified the …
EU business prioritises integrity of single market and maximum future trade
Major continental business groups reacting to the UK’s formal triggering of its Article 50 withdrawal process from the EU consider maintaining the integrity of the EU’s single market and general unity among the 27 remaining member states as a key priority. The group Business Europe listed a few priorities in a …
Blog: EU to UK: no trade deal yet – with anyone
Shortly after the United Kingdom formally submitted its letter formally notifying the EU on Wednesday (29 March 2017) that it was withdrawing from the bloc, the member states and the EU Commission set out the EU27’s view on what are the next steps. A leaked European Parliament resolution on Brexit …
Brexit: UK ties security to trade agreement – seeks “bold and ambitious” FTA
The United Kingdom’s has set out on Wednesday (29 March 2017) the country’s key priorities for the coming two-year negotiations with the EU towards its withdrawal from the trade and political bloc it has been party to for more than forty years. In her letter to Donald Tusk, the president of the …
Blog: recommended reading – Brexit reports
As everyone awaits the triggering of Article 50 by the UK on Wednesday (29 March 2017), the number of ‘Brexit and trade with the EU’-related reports produced by think tanks and other organisations is on the rise. It’s hard to keep the count – and to keep up with the reading. …
Fact check: Is there a need for a UK WTO ‘Plan B’ deal?
There have been media reports that the UK is exploring whether it can have a transition deal with the EU under the WTO to avoid a disruption in trade before a new trading arrangement with the EU – presumably a free trade agreement – is in place. It’s been called a …
