Who would you want the UK to sign trade deals with after Brexit

[BritBrit]

So if we leave the EU we finally get the right to sign our own trade deals with other countries so which countries would you like the UK to pursue a trade deal with?

[Spinflight]

Sri Lanka..

Have to protect our vital tea supplies.

[RitchyBestingFace]

Syria - so we can keep selling them arms.

[RitchyBestingFace]

S&B forum will definitely want to prioritise South Korea for their BB cream needs.

[HamletsSister]

France, and all wine producing countries.

Italy for Prosecco.

Oh, cheese. All cheese places.

(Had no lunch, love wine, might not be a good choice for a negotiator as I tend to capitulate in the face of alcohol and food)

[RitchyBestingFace]

DS1 is very concerned that Brexit may jeopardise his place in Real Madrid's first team. He is 7

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

Colombia

[YourPerception]

Yes to cheese from France. I want lemons, sugar, chocolate and coffee.

[Balletgirlmum]

I think it will be difficult to negotiate trade deals as if we leave the EU we won't have much negotiating power

[Threepineapples]

The EU

[Mistigri]

Don't forget that you won't be able to negotiate with EU countries separately.

Maybe you could import some American cheese instead :)

[YourPerception]

Or make better cheese here.

[shinytorch2]

We already make fab cheese here (waves at friends who have cheese making business!)

[kinkytoes]

Yes! I hope everyone will feel more disposed to support homegrown producers. We should be anyway really.

[Winterbiscuit]

Africa.

It would be a fantastic opportunity to make a huge difference.

Quoting from the following in the Guardian:

New trade deals challenge Africa to step on to the global stage

"Without growing its economy, Africa risks being left behind, unable to create the jobs it needs to reduce poverty"

"To reduce poverty further and create jobs, Africa will need to become more globally engaged."

"While Africa needs to become part of the global economy, the rules of engagement are changing in ways that could further marginalise Africa. This is primarily the result of a US-led push to develop new high-standard trade and investment agreements – the most significant of these being the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement concluded last October. In addition, the US and the EU are negotiating a bilateral trade deal and there are other large trade negotiations centred in Asia."

"No country in Africa is a part of these new trade agreements; yet they will significantly affect Africa’s ability to participate in the global economy."

"...there is currently no large global trade negotiation where Africa’s views are being considered."

[YourPerception]

We already have commonwealth contacts too.

[Globetrotter100]

Russia. For vodka.

I hear Putin is very enthusiastic about a potential Brexit so pretty sure there's a deal to be done there.

And we'll all need a drink by then, I guess so win-win

[HamletsSister]

I love our cheese. Had Wensleydale for lunch. But Brie? Port Salut?

[RitchyBestingFace]

I buy from local producers - and the EU do support local producers - but the UK can't supply all our food. Have you ever tried to live off a local veg box in February? Swede, turnip, floury apples.

Even Riverford which is fairly outspoken on local produce imports a lot of its products.

[Balletgirlmum]

Those who are more knowledgable please enlighten me.

If we leave the EU then we will have to re-negotiate the 50 odd trade agreements the EU has with the 'rest of the world' yes?

Which I imagine will be time consuming & very political.

Then we will have to negotiate with the EU as a whole not with individual countries?

I could imagine the EU being quite belligerent about that.

I read somewhere that India & somewhere else (Australia maybe) don't want to immediately negotiate with Britain until they see what effect/our relationship is with Europe.

[RitchyBestingFace]

I'm Remain but I agree with the PP on Africa. The Eu's history of trade with Africa is shameful.

[SoddingPufflers]

BritBrit, as you seem to be an expert, I have a question. Who are the countries/markets that we are not allowed to trade with as EU members? Is there a list? What will they sell to us/buy from us that EU does not currently? Are there reasons that we/the EU does not currently trade with some of these countries? Eg sanctions/political reasons?

[BritBrit]

SoddingPuffler we are allowed to trade with the world but the EU is in charge of trade -policy so the UK cannot make our own trade deals so we don't have free access to growing markets or our Commonwealth allies. The EU also use a common external tariff which forces the UK to put tariffs on goods & food from non EU countries (& they on the UK in return) which prevents better trade & also stops the UK importing cheaper goods because the EU tariffs aim to ensure goods from non EU nations are the same as EU produced goods to protect EU industry.

[lljkk]

This graphic suggests that our main exports are services & there aren't WTO tarriffs for services (I think) so no need for trade treaties. Panic over. ;-)

Oh, and whiskey of course. We'll need a few treaties to cover booze deals with Japan & USA. Can't beat a bit of Glen Fiddich.

[Globetrotter100]

RE your link, I do hope there's some good stuff in the "other business" slice, else that pie doesn't look too tasty.

Maybe we could trade pies with someone