I disagree. We are still a big economy on our own, we have a superb infrastructure in place for absorbing exports, we enjoy a great deal of 'soft' power in terms of our culture being still held in high regard. Plus we can move quick. And that matters. Would a nation rather almost do a deal with the EU or get tied up for years, maybe even decades because it requires 26 nations to agree or will it decide to sit down with the UK and hammer something out? It is not an either or situation. That is the point. We can have Brazillian beef or African fruits and vegetables on our shelves in a matter of months. I would personally like us to declare a unilateral zero tariff regime but I suspect that will not happen.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

Since when did 3% become big?

We already do.

Edited by steve1984 (11 Dec 2018 11.34pm)

I can't tell if that was helpful or not?

Can you explain that one to me please?

Ok....lets break this down for you.....let's imagine that an economy makes 100 billion and has a growth rate of ten percent.....That economy has put on 10 billion.

110 Billion.

Now lets imagine an economy that makes 1 trillion and give it a growth rate of 3 percent. That gets you an increase of 30 billion.

Edited by Stirlingsays (11 Dec 2018 11.58pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Obviously our share of the financial services market is much bigger (I guess). So that would be an easier negotiation. But we "only" buy 3% of global cars and that share is dropping as China etc grows.

Its about substitution. You can't buy a substitute complex financial service from many other countries but you can put on 3% of additional car sales more easily in the fast growing markets of asia etc.

Edited by steve1984 (12 Dec 2018 12.12am)