3 ms·

I don't think this lot actually care about the trading and regulatory relationship with Europe, at all. I can't figure out what is supposed to fill the place oc

I don't think this lot actually care about the trading and regulatory relationship with Europe, at all. I can't figure out what is supposed to fill the place occupied by the EU. Which makes for an interesting decade, particularly if you have a business trading within the EU.

matthewmacleod 7y ago
It’s possible of course, but ultimately so much business is conducted with Europe that UK businesses are still going to have to be in compliance with the majority of the regulatory regime - at least anybody who exports. I imagine most companies will end up setting up EU-domiciled subsidiaries to minimise barriers, but who knows ultimately!
jariel 7y ago
They care to the extent they have to. They signalled earlier that they are not going to align themselves with EU regulatory apparatus - this was to indicate to the EU that they were not going for the 'tight integration' approach, which is important because it was assumed by many this would be the UK position. The UK is seeking to have an independent regulatory system, obviously, this means many things vis-a-vis relationships with the EU. Many products will naturally have to comply with regulations, just as any UK company selling kit in the US or Brazil has to align their products with those regimes. But in reality, obviously, this will evolve given any specific advantages that might present themselves. But it's also impossible to tell what is a 'negotiating posture' vs. what is their real, intended posture, and that's very much on purpose. My bet is that the end result will be something like NAFTA/USMCA.
toyg 7y ago
This lot does not even agree with itself about what it wants, or is deliberately making an effort to appear that way. One day the chancellor of the Exchequer (effectively n.2 in gov, the one with actual hands on the purse-string) says “screw alignment, we don’t need the EU, the Americans are our best friend”; the next the Prime Minister says “screw Americans, they are bullies, the EU is still our best friend”; and the chancellor goes “he’s right, I don’t know what I was thinking the other day”. In the next 12 months, the public won’t be able to believe a single word coming from government that might involve (even tangentially) trade negotiations.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  Very true, they're all winging it. It all seems to be coming from the evil genius Cummings who tells everyone from Johnson down what to think. It's too disturbing to contemplate what the state of the establishment, civil service, judiciary and all the other checks and balances will be at the end of five years.

matthewmacleod 7y ago

It’s possible of course, but ultimately so much business is conducted with Europe that UK businesses are still going to have to be in compliance with the majority of the regulatory regime - at least anybody who exports. I imagine most companies will end up setting up EU-domiciled subsidiaries to minimise barriers, but who knows ultimately!

jariel 7y ago

They care to the extent they have to. They signalled earlier that they are not going to align themselves with EU regulatory apparatus - this was to indicate to the EU that they were not going for the 'tight integration' approach, which is important because it was assumed by many this would be the UK position. The UK is seeking to have an independent regulatory system, obviously, this means many things vis-a-vis relationships with the EU. Many products will naturally have to comply with regulations, just as any UK company selling kit in the US or Brazil has to align their products with those regimes. But in reality, obviously, this will evolve given any specific advantages that might present themselves. But it's also impossible to tell what is a 'negotiating posture' vs. what is their real, intended posture, and that's very much on purpose. My bet is that the end result will be something like NAFTA/USMCA.

toyg 7y ago

This lot does not even agree with itself about what it wants, or is deliberately making an effort to appear that way. One day the chancellor of the Exchequer (effectively n.2 in gov, the one with actual hands on the purse-string) says “screw alignment, we don’t need the EU, the Americans are our best friend”; the next the Prime Minister says “screw Americans, they are bullies, the EU is still our best friend”; and the chancellor goes “he’s right, I don’t know what I was thinking the other day”. In the next 12 months, the public won’t be able to believe a single word coming from government that might involve (even tangentially) trade negotiations.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Very true, they're all winging it. It all seems to be coming from the evil genius Cummings who tells everyone from Johnson down what to think. It's too disturbing to contemplate what the state of the establishment, civil service, judiciary and all the other checks and balances will be at the end of five years.