Sal Paradise wrote:The UK has a huge negative balance of payments with the EU - so we pump money in so some countries become more prosperous so they can charge us more for their goods - perhaps that really is too simplistic?
Yes they may be able to buy more of our goods but we will also buy much more of their goods - seems a lose lose to me.
Nobody is saying it will be easy - but impossible no, as I keep saying there are plenty of countries especially in the far east that don't seem to have any difficulties trading with the EU without the EU putting any real restructions on how they operate e.g. working practises - if a country has something the EU wants no trade barriers will stop it being bought.
Can you explain the "huge negative balance of payments" please. Do you mean in terms of trade or, contributions ?
I would also argue that Britain, without the influence of the EU, would go backwards, in terms of employment legislation, and on a topical note "green issues", something which can only change "collectively", an area where the EU is particularly strong.
And, you talk about lose/lose ??
Changing a trading relationship with your "biggest customer" is always fraught with danger.
Most businesses would prefer "not rocking the boat", however, The UK has decided to gamble on getting some better deals from being on the outside of the trading union.
This is not something that most business leaders would recommend, little wonder that the CBI were so against "leaving".