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I am not sure why hard exit is going to be "catastrophic". There are many countries outside EU doing just fine and doing business with EU countries. Plus nothin

I am not sure why hard exit is going to be "catastrophic". There are many countries outside EU doing just fine and doing business with EU countries. Plus nothing stops UK from signing bilateral trade deals with EU countries and I wouldn't be surprised if Germany and France were first in the row do sign such deal (loudly crying at the same time how important is the EU solidarity).

matthewmacleod 8y ago
There is no such thing as a bilateral trade deal with an EU country. Trade deals are with the EU overall. Yes, they will want a trade deal - but the UK will be in a vastly weak negotiating position, as (I think) the only country with literally no trade deals in place on exit day. Who is going to get the upside of that deal?
Kurtz79 8y ago
It has been explained multiple times to several people (Donald Trump, one of them), that for EU countries is impossible to establish individual trade deals, they must do as part of a block. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-merkel-germany-eu-2017-4?IR=T https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-merkel-germany-e... It would defeat the purpose of a common market. What stops UK from doing so is EU laws. But I agree it won't be catastrophic. UK will survive, the EU will survive. But jobs will be lost in the process, economies will be affected, quality of life will be lowered. And people voted for this to happen.
- matthewmacleod 8y ago
  Both the UK and EU will survive, but I think that’s an awful metric. I have a startup in the UK. We employ EU citizens, sell products and services to EU customers, buy products and services from EU suppliers, and receive EU grant funding. A disorderly Brexit will affect us in unknown, possibly terminal ways. Aside from that personal issue, I t’s possible in the worst case that hundreds of people may die due to lack of medication. The economy will be affected to the time of 10% of GDP over 15 years, by the government’s own prediction. I think that counts as catastrophic.
somebadguy 8y ago
The reason you’re not sure is that you are catastrophically ignorant. Learn about this stuff before you waste everyone’s time with your ignorance

matthewmacleod 8y ago

There is no such thing as a bilateral trade deal with an EU country. Trade deals are with the EU overall. Yes, they will want a trade deal - but the UK will be in a vastly weak negotiating position, as (I think) the only country with literally no trade deals in place on exit day. Who is going to get the upside of that deal?

Kurtz79 8y ago

It has been explained multiple times to several people (Donald Trump, one of them), that for EU countries is impossible to establish individual trade deals, they must do as part of a block. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-merkel-germany-eu-2017-4?IR=T https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-merkel-germany-e... It would defeat the purpose of a common market. What stops UK from doing so is EU laws. But I agree it won't be catastrophic. UK will survive, the EU will survive. But jobs will be lost in the process, economies will be affected, quality of life will be lowered. And people voted for this to happen.

matthewmacleod 8y ago
Both the UK and EU will survive, but I think that’s an awful metric. I have a startup in the UK. We employ EU citizens, sell products and services to EU customers, buy products and services from EU suppliers, and receive EU grant funding. A disorderly Brexit will affect us in unknown, possibly terminal ways. Aside from that personal issue, I t’s possible in the worst case that hundreds of people may die due to lack of medication. The economy will be affected to the time of 10% of GDP over 15 years, by the government’s own prediction. I think that counts as catastrophic.

somebadguy 8y ago

The reason you’re not sure is that you are catastrophically ignorant. Learn about this stuff before you waste everyone’s time with your ignorance