4 ms·
> The UK imports a lot of food from EU neighbors. In case of a hard Brexit, this will just ... stop. A hard Brexit doesn't mean the EU will impose an embargo o
by avar 8y ago
> The UK imports a lot of food from EU neighbors. In case of a hard Brexit, this will just ... stop.
A hard Brexit doesn't mean the EU will impose an embargo on the UK. The EU now happily exports food to WTO members outside the EU, and doesn't impose export tolls or restrictions on those that I'm aware of.
Of course the UK might impose its own tolls, quotas and other import restrictions after crashing out of the EU, but that'll be its own doing.
Edit (since OP updated): It seems implausible that the government would make that self-imposed process onerous enough to result in a literal famine. Which goes to the heart of what you've misunderstood here.
This "chaos at the border" refers to chaos for UK companies trying to export things due to customs requirements the EU has, whereas the UK's hypothetical inability to import something would be due to a purely self-imposed post-EU customs process.
- jpfr 8y agoIn order to get their VAT back, exporters from the EU also need to get their papers checked against the actual goods and stamped. This takes hours for every truck. That is irrespective of whether the importing country lifts all tariffs. > https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/taxation/vat/vat-rules-rates/index_en.htm https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/taxation/vat/vat-rules... If enough trucks with TVs and car parts clog the borders, then the food-trucks (who might get some sort of special treatment) are also clogged. They will be clogged 50 miles before they reach the border.
- stephen_g 8y agoBut of course. I have also heard people seriously suggest that the UK will cease to uphold any human rights without the EU. As somebody who lives outside the EU and still somehow has human rights, I expect this is also an exaggeration...