Research

Let’s get ready for ‘no deal’


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Brexit

IEA's Brexit Unit releases paper making the case for free trade

Economic Affairs

Response to possibility of 'no deal' scenario

https://iea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IEA-Brexit-Unit-note-on-no-deal.pdf
Summary: 

A ‘no deal’ scenario, in which the UK simply leaves the Single Market and Customs Union in 2019, does not have to be the ‘catastrophe’ that many fear. There would be some new barriers to trade with the EU, but these should be manageable.  On the upside, the UK would be able to crack on with its own trade deals with the rest of the world, cut tariffs on imports unilaterally, review EU regulations, and save straightaway on contributions to the EU budget.

The biggest risks may be in areas such as financial services and aviation, which are not covered by WTO rules. But the UK and the EU could simply agree to continue the current arrangements here separately from the Article 50 process. It may well be better to have a short transition to smooth all this out, followed swiftly by a comprehensive free trade deal. Nonetheless, a clean break in 2019 could still be the next best outcome.

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Julian Jessop is an independent economist with over thirty years of experience gained in the public sector, City and consultancy, including senior positions at HM Treasury, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and Capital Economics. He was Chief Economist and Head of the Brexit Unit at the IEA until December 2018 and continues to support our work, especially schools outreach, on a pro bono basis.



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