The end of the world is nigh.

[retep]

No I'm not making arguments up on the hoof. Brexiters seem to be in some fantasy land about how trade deals will be done after Brexit, ignoring the realities of single market access and solutions based on WTO rules

 

This is from the horses mouth, the former director-general of the WTO

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/peter-sutherland-the-brexiteers-magical-thinking-on-global-trade-1.2592486

 

Weep!

 

Is that the horse who lives in the ivory tower.

[Cyclone]

Yep 2nd strongest economy in Europe, 5th in the world, 5th most powerful military in the world.

 

Compared to the entirety of the EU, pretty small beans.

[sutty27]

Compared to the entirety of the EU, pretty small beans.

 

But very large compared to other countries that trade with the EU.

[I1L2T3]

Is that the horse who lives in the ivory tower.

 

Former director-general of the WTO in an ivory tower? He was the director-general of the WTO when it was established and he's telling it like it is.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 14:55 ----------

 

Yep 2nd strongest economy in Europe, 5th in the world, 5th most powerful military in the world.

 

And we're all those things within the EU.

[sutty27]

 

And we're all those things within the EU.

 

And we are those things out of the EU, so would make a good trading partner.

[Cyclone]

Except inside the EU we have a large influence on the behaviour and direction of the entire block.

 

Outside it we become a minor partner trading with 3 super powers (US, China, EU), not able to negotiate on a level field with any of them.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 15:23 ----------

 

But very large compared to other countries that trade with the EU.

 

They trade as a block, they negotiate as a block. We're also large compared to Provence or Barcelona. But we don't negotiate with fragments, if we're on the outside then we negotiate with the entire EU, which puts us at a severe disadvantage.

[Quik]

Except inside the EU we have a large influence on the behaviour and direction of the entire block.

 

Outside it we become a minor partner trading with 3 super powers (US, China, EU), not able to negotiate on a level field with any of them.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 15:23 ----------

 

 

They trade as a block, they negotiate as a block. We're also large compared to Provence or Barcelona. But we don't negotiate with fragments, if we're on the outside then we negotiate with the entire EU, which puts us at a severe disadvantage.

Rubbish. Outside the EU we can negotiate based on British needs, not on a hodge podge based on the needs of the Bulgarian tobacco lobby, French wine cartels and Italian organised criminals.

 

Negotiating en bloc is weak for the individual nations interests as it multiplys required compromise.

[I1L2T3]

And we are those things out of the EU, so would make a good trading partner.

 

Not if our economy shrinks. If our economy shrinks we'll probably spend less on the military.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 15:46 ----------

 

Rubbish. Outside the EU we can negotiate based on British needs, not on a hodge podge based on the needs of the Bulgarian tobacco lobby, French wine cartels and Italian organised criminals.

 

Negotiating en bloc is weak for the individual nations interests as it multiplys required compromise.

 

You're wrong. Posted earlier but in case you missed it:

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/peter-sutherland-the-brexiteers-magical-thinking-on-global-trade-1.2592486

Edited April 1, 2016 by I1L2T3

[retep]

Former director-general of the WTO in an ivory tower? He was the director-general of the WTO when it was established and he's telling it like it is.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 14:55 ----------

 

 

And we're all those things within the EU.

 

Yep must be nice in Kensington, ask him if he thinks the same after living in Page Hall for a year.

[sutty27]

Rubbish. Outside the EU we can negotiate based on British needs, not on a hodge podge based on the needs of the Bulgarian tobacco lobby, French wine cartels and Italian organised criminals.

 

Negotiating en bloc is weak for the individual nations interests as it multiplys required compromise.

 

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

 

---------- Post added 01-04-2016 at 16:58 ----------

 

Not if our economy shrinks. If our economy shrinks we'll probably spend less on the military.

 

You're wrong. Posted earlier but in case you missed it:

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/peter-sutherland-the-brexiteers-magical-thinking-on-global-trade-1.2592486

 

 

That's a big if, and even if it halved we would still be in the worlds top 12, 4th in the Europe and still higher up the ranking than Spain, South Korea, Australia, and only just behind Russia, Canada.