Re: UK trade with other EU countries
Hi
In response to Bread.
Yes, we can cut tariffs and import cheaper.
There is no requirement on others to cut their tariffs on our goods in the same way.
This then puts our exporters under a great disadvantage,
We are the 10th largest exporter in the World and we will still need to export to earn the foreign currency required to buy our imports and pay our debts.
We simply cannot compete against those nations which have a very low manufacturing cost base.
That is why to the WTO has Tariffs and Free Trade deals, to even up the playing field.
This is where Non Tariff Barriers under WTO Rules come into play.
China has a huge number of Non Tariff Barriers to protect it's industries.
We only have 50 days to go and we have not yet published our WTO Schedules.
It is impossible for industry to plan ahead under these circumstances.
I will repeat, I am not against Brexit, I am critical of the mess we have made of it.
If we had gone for a straight WTO Free Trade Deal like Canada , Japan and the others, we would have been out next month, no need to pay for a Transition Period and our industry would have had time to plan.
There would have been no Northern Ireland Border issue, as goods and agriculture are tariff free and you do not need a hard border for services.