Re: Deal before Year End?

I wonder if you have seen this from John Redwood, which might help clarify how UK/EU trade really works as well as WTO rules?

https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2020/1...-project-fear/

Re: Deal before Year End?

I have the distinct feeling that that is exactly what we'll end up with in time. A free trade deal as an independent nation without any political ties.
Just like they have agreed with Canada and others.

Of course, they dread agreeing a deal with us for two simple reasons:
- they have enjoyed controlling us in every way for forty years and feel they can't afford to give that up;
- they fear a direct competitor which is directly on their doorstep and is strong financially and politically.

Re: Deal before Year End?

I agree with you Barry, except for perhaps the first part of your first sentence. I am of the opinion that countries are no longer truly and completely independent of each other. Britain is no different. We need other countries and they need us -it is a mutually beneficial thing.

Re: Deal before Year End?

Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the deal is done but Boris needs a bit of grandstanding to sell it to his ( how shall I put it) ardent brexiteers. What better than claiming he knocked those Europeans heads together and forced a deal out of them even if he had to give way a bit on the Internal Market Bill. After all his big election clarion call was get Brexit done!”

Re: Deal before Year End?

There is no "Don't care" box.

Re: Deal before Year End?

Would that be for similar reasons as to why others here also do not care about the state of the Australian economy despite your attempts to engage, do you think?



A no deal currently is looking most likely and - despite what a few fantasists might suggest - there is absolutely nothing indicative of any deal being even remotely near because of the EU's insistence that the UK cede sovereignty.
None.

What I find particularly interesting at this late stage is that no firm day has been set for this meeting between Boris and von der Leyen, especially following Barnier's "the deal must be done by Wednesday" comment.

Also interesting is that - although we know that both have asked their chief negotiators to "prepare an overview of the remaining differences" and that these will meet today (Tuesday) to do so, neither has actually said that anything else is happening.
The obvious conclusion must be that negotiations are now finished.

It should also be noted that despite media insistence yesterday that Boris had offered to remove some clauses from the WA if a deal was available, the Bill again passed in the Commons with a comfortable majority of 89.

IMHO then the obvious outcome at this stage is no deal.
What follows will, I think, see the EU desperately try to engage in the new year and agree the basic trade deal which is what the UK has said for so long now is all that it wants.
How early in the new year depends upon how vocal any suffering EU traders with the UK become.

Re: Deal before Year End?

I think most of us agree entirely with you Barry, and none more so
than Boris, he has allways been clear that his first preference is
to have a deal?
However your first paragraph appears to be impossible according to
the eu commissioners !!
So perhaps you should address that paragraph to them ??
TRULY independant requires certain conditions to prevail for it to
be true doesnt it, surely??

Donkeyman! 👍🤔👍

Re: Deal before Year End?

But isn't that what we are negotiating for at present, or have I missed something? And as it's what you want as well then why say you would prefer no deal?

Your stance seems contradictory to agreeing with me...

Re: Deal before Year End?

March would be fine by me!

Re: Deal before Year End?

Truly independent means, quite simply, we retain our sovereignty including our sea areas, our right to support our own businesses and our freedom from any interference from the ECJ.

After all, these are all things which Canada and Japan have.