Another Benefit of Brexit?

There is no bar to trade with EU nations we just obey their rules, tariffs and quotas, fill in the paperwork and tick the boxes
That’s what we voted for

We import quite a lot from Italy, manufactured goods as well as food and wine, we export around half that amount, probably a lot of that is Scotch.

Katie59

There is no bar to trade with EU nations we just obey their rules, tariffs and quotas, fill in the paperwork and tick the boxes
That’s what we voted for

The cost is enormous though and makes it non viable commercially in many cases. The UK has not even implemented the rules that we 'voted for' for imports, as it would be so so costly and damaging.

But it is not as 'simple as that'- if they are not happy with standards, be it safety or feeds, or husbandry, or whatever, they can just refuse imports from UK at any time.

And of course, if there are shortages, of anything, they will prioritise their own, quite naturally. The tanking of Sterling is a huge factor too- everything we import costs so much more now. Feeds, cereals, all staples, chemicals for water purification, medicines, etc- if the war in Ukraine and other factors worsen- they will not export any, but share among themselves- in times of shortages, you look after your own. Very normal.

As I mentioned the other day, sterling hasn’t tanked against the euro, there has been no major change since 2008.

I agree that countries and the EU will prioritise their own supplies when times are difficult, but it isn’t related to the exchange rate.

The UK has a very long list of exports to Italy available online. It’s quite extensive and worth a look.

ronib

MaizieD yes it’s a MoU. So do we export our cars and power generating equipment to Italy under an MoU or a different trade deal do you know?

What have we promised to trade under the MoU?

Basically, nothing

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/the-brazen-con-of-kemi-badenochs-post-brexit-trade-partnership-with-italy/

Any trade we do with Italy comes under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement negotiated prior to leaving the EU. It just continues (with costly barriers to trade) the trade with Italy that we've been doing for decades.

Kemi Badenoch is visiting Mexico next for more of the same?

MaizieD

ronib

MaizieD yes it’s a MoU. So do we export our cars and power generating equipment to Italy under an MoU or a different trade deal do you know?

What have we promised to trade under the MoU?

Basically, nothing

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/the-brazen-con-of-kemi-badenochs-post-brexit-trade-partnership-with-italy/

Any trade we do with Italy comes under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement negotiated prior to leaving the EU. It just continues (with costly barriers to trade) the trade with Italy that we've been doing for decades.

Brazen con

It’s so transparent they real think voters are stupid

There are small export businesses on the brink of bankruptcy because of the extra costs of export and import with EU countries. Brexit is an unmitigated disaster.

The North we promised so much, and voted accordingly. And they are suffering the most, industry by industry.

ONE WONDERS WHY ASTRA ZENECA HAS NOW DECIDED TO INVEST IN IRELAND - IS IT THE EU?
“AstraZeneca has a fair claim to being the UK’s most successful major company of the last decade, as well as being one of its biggest domestic spenders thanks to the Cambridge facility. If it can’t sound enthusiastic about investing in the UK, there is a serious problem. AstraZeneca had wanted to build a new $360m “state-of-the-art” manufacturing plant in the north-west of England near its existing facilities in Warrington and Speke. It has decided instead to build its new factory in Ireland after the entire pharma industry, more or less, has openly criticised the gap between the government’s rhetoric and the reality of policymaking.”
(from The Guardian)

This is so serious at a time of medicine and vaccination shortages in the world. The EU will quite naturally protect and prioritise its members.

I don't think that multi national companies can trust the present UK govt. Johnson and later PMs have not been exactly helpful or trustworthy in their commercial dealings.

and of course ease of imports and exports too, paperwork/data, tarifs, transport, etc, etc, etc.

ONE WONDERS WHY ASTRA ZENECA HAS NOW DECIDED TO INVEST IN IRELAND - IS IT THE EU?

Taxation is much lower in Ireland for companies, many base their European operations in Ireland

Dinahmo

I don't think that multi national companies can trust the present UK govt. Johnson and later PMs have not been exactly helpful or trustworthy in their commercial dealings.

... if it's true that Johnson said, f*ck Business, coupled with the rumour that he's hoping to make a comeback, I think investors will be a tad wary of the political and economic climate in the UK.

Not to mention Truss' disastrous short reign - and her also wanting to make a comeback, insisting she was right about growth but it just came out wrong .

I'm sure big business will wonder if we actually have a plan or know what we are doing.

Then there's the instability created by the strikes in response to the government's handling of the economy.

If I was looking to open a factory or set up a business - or invest - I'm not sure I'd be looking at the UK as a safe bet.

Indeed, and taxation would be just one of so many factors. Ease and cost of importing and exporting would be another major one, so would licensing.

I don’t think Italy wants many “British” cars ( which cars are actually British? ) We know the car industry here has fallen by 50%, Italy actually manufactures its own cars, and washing machines, textiles etc Unlike here where we sold it all off.

“I'm sure big business will wonder if we actually have a plan or know what we are doing.”

The problem is that the UK has been living hand to mouth, day to day since the Brexit vote, with no clear direction. Brexit, then Covid now Ukraine, Energy crisis and political turmoil.

It’s hardly surprising that companies are cautious about investing in UK, that’s not likely to change until a stable government is established.

To attract investment to the UK companies need to know that people will be able to buy their products. Other countries are doing much better than the UK despite having suffered Covid & war (Brexit being our unique stupidity). We won't attract investment when a significant proportion of the consuming public can't afford to buy anything but basic necessities.

Why does everyone forget this essential component of growth - customers with money to spare?

In the “I”

Unsafe meat is being allowed into the UK because of a lack of post-Brexit border checks, say industry insiders, who fear African Swine Fever and other diseases will be introduced.

Experts are also warning that British consumers could today be eating meat and fish that is not what it purports to be, just as horse was passed off as beef in 2013.

Checks to guarantee animal and plant health have been delayed four times since Brexit two years ago and are currently not due to be implemented until the end of 2023.

We are relying on EU border controls, the same that were in place pre Brexit so any dodgy goods would have to originate from within the EU. It’s not good but customs are struggling (and failing) to control migrants and smuggling.

Katie59

We import quite a lot from Italy, manufactured goods as well as food and wine, we export around half that amount, probably a lot of that is Scotch.

The top five exports to Italy are cars, crude oil, mechanical power generators, non-ferrous metals and metal ores/scrap.

Top imports from Italy are medicinal & pharmaceutical products, clothing, general industrial machinery, beverages and road vehicles other than cars.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1132361/italy-trade-and-investment-factsheet-2023-02-01.pdf

We joined a Common Market, which was a great idea. Can't remember them asking if we wanted to join a Political Union.

tricia58

We joined a Common Market, which was a great idea. Can't remember them asking if we wanted to join a Political Union.

Now we are finding the disadvantage of being outside any political union we think we can do it all ourselves, even though most companies are foreign owned.

tricia58

We joined a Common Market, which was a great idea. Can't remember them asking if we wanted to join a Political Union.

Poor memory or mindless repetition of Leave propaganda, then.

It was made very clear at the time that there was a political dimension to the Common Market.

It's always been the case that the EU looks to share common political values, peace, co-operation, respect for human rights, respect for the law etc. It was, after all, not just a project to restore prosperity to a war torn Europe, but also to promote a degree of co-operation integration such that member states would never again consider the possibility of war with their fellow EU states.