Trade with EU

[PBC_1966]

We apply all sorts of conditions, such as {.....} to China based on their Human Rights, to Far East based on their child labour {.....}

It must be all those stringent conditions which mean we don't deal with China then.... Oh wait a moment, the shelves of stores in the U.K. and U.S. are absolutely flooded with cheap Chinese junk, aren't they?

So:

I'm sure there'll be a similar list that applies to us.

You're suggesting that the EU would insist upon similar restrictions applying to the U.K. if it left then? On what grounds: That the U.K. won't agree to the EU's working time directives, excessive health & safety regulations, making sure that products have to have metric measurements shown more prominently than Imperial....? Or perhaps refusal to comply with some EU directive that the next wave of vacuum cleaners must not exceed 50W would, in the EU's eyes, make the U.K. on a par with China's disregard for the environment.

But then the EU currently allows trade with China, doesn't it? So why would it not trade with the U.K. following withdrawal?

 

[JohnD]

So you're going for the "stop trading with the EU" option.

I'd say it's more of a "call the EU's bluff" option.

"Why do you keep pretending you don't know?

Don't know what?

pretending you don't know that in certain cases, countries wishing to trade with the EU will have to consent to obey some EU laws, even for transactions outside the EU. You've known about it for weeks, at least. So why do you keep pretending you don't?

It is especially relevant to Financial Services, which as you also know, in the UKs case is bigger than our entire manufacturing sector. There are plenty of other European centres keen to take this profitable business if we are stupid enough to cut our nose off, as you know.

With more than half our trade going to the EU, I don't believe any UK government would be willing to abandon it, like you would.

 

[PBC_1966]

pretending you don't know that in certain cases, countries wishing to trade with the EU will have to consent to obey some EU laws, even for transactions outside the EU.

Some EU regulations is better than all EU regulations, as at present. But frankly, countries agreeing to obey EU regulations for things which are nothing to do with the EU are making a rod for their own backs by giving in to such bullying.

 

[JohnD]

Switzerland is, and a UK that resigned from the EU would be, free to stop handling financial transactions with the EU, or for EU citizens, if they didn't like the regulations. Or the EU would be free to prevent transactions with those countries that refuse to comply.

I'm surprised you recommend it.

 

[PBC_1966]

Switzerland is, and a UK that resigned from the EU would be, free to stop handling financial transactions with the EU

If the conditions the EU wishes to impose are unacceptable, then that is exactly what they should do.

or for EU citizens.

Hmmm... Are you suggesting that if U.K. were to withdraw, refuse to accept the EU's banking orders so that financial transactions with other EU countries came to an end (which I very much doubt would happen, but still) the U.K. banks should also refuse to deal with a citizen of an EU country even if he's outside the EU and transacting business which has nothing to do with the EU?

P.S. Why do they need to talk about an "EU citizen" anyway? That implies citizenship of a nation, which the EU is not. But of course, it's just one more step in trying to get people to accept the EU superstate and all that would go with it.

 

[Davie Jones]

Barclays seem to be of the opinion that following Brexit, the UK would be a safe haven for Eurocash, especially if the EU started to disintegrate.

Please forgive the vulgarity but......Kerrching!

 

[JohnD]

If the conditions the EU wishes to impose are unacceptable, then that is exactly what they should do.

you keep talking as if you haven't read the Swiss link.

That's not really true, is it?

It does seem to be a very difficult aspect for you to cope with.

 

[Davie Jones]

If the conditions the EU wishes to impose are unacceptable, then that is exactly what they should do.

you keep talking as if you haven't read the Swiss link.

That's not really true, is it?

It does seem to be a very difficult aspect for you to cope with.

John, you need to calm down lad else you're going to have another breakdown like you did last night

 

[PBC_1966]

you keep talking as if you haven't read the Swiss link..

But what is your point? So Switzerland and the EU came to an agreement about passing on account information. That doesn't necessarily mean that the U.K. would come to a similar agreement with the EU.

 

[JohnD]

Wait for you-know-who to dismiss that as "irrelevant" because somehow the EU is different......

Your point is?

 

[PBC_1966]

That he conveniently dismisses things as "irrelevant to the question of leaving or remaining within the EU" when they conflict with some assertion he's made.

 

[JohnD]

question too difficult for you?

Not at all, it was irrelevant.

 

[JohnD]

Your data was from 2014, so it is way out of date and irrelevant

 

[jockscott]

Show me where he has said what new markets the anti-EU campaigners think can make up for a reduction of trade with the EU.

You haven't, either.

We can use existing markets. Do you seriously think the rest of the world is gonna stop trading with the UK if we exit the EU? Do you think trade with the EU is suddenly going to stop 2 yrs after a no vote? Get real John. I don't see what "new markets" your driving at. (or are you suggesting the EU won't trade with us , so we have to find other markets to deal with) The world is only so big... (or have new countries sprung up whilst I type) ??

 

[JohnD]

I have never suggested that the UK and EU would stop trading. Only PBC has suggested that.

Neither have I suggested that the UK and the rest of the world would stop trading. I have no idea how you generated that fantasy.

So you are wrong to say "get real" to me. Maybe you should say it to PBC.