Brexit pangs
Brexit, once hailed as a grand natural experiment for economists to dissect the repercussions of leaving a low-friction trade environment, has proven messier than anticipated.
Brexit, once hailed as a grand natural experiment for economists to dissect the repercussions of leaving a low-friction trade environment, has proven messier than anticipated.
The light-touch checks under the grace period for supermarket products will expire at the end of September.
Rishi Sunak, the son-in-law of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and the MP from Richmond, Yorkshire, since 2015, was virtually unknown even a year ago. “Just five out of 1,191 named Rishi Sunak” in a poll conducted in December 2019 by Tim Bale, a professor of politics at the Queen Mary University.
Half a decade of the British cohabitating with their Continental cousins has now ended, launching the UK on a path of its own making, free from EU laws, able to strike trade agreements with other countries around the world, and reshape its economy, society and governance structures.
The UK was adamant throughout the negotiations that it be treated as a sovereign equal of the EU and have its independence respected. This was particularly important when it came to fishing rights – one of the last issues to be resolved.
The first round of negotiations is set to last until Thursday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has less than a year to forge a new relationship ~ encompassing security, defence and economic ties ~ with the bloc.
Negotiations are due to begin in Brussels on March 2.
There are talks in London about a so-called Canada-style trade agreement with zero tariffs.
France has made clear it thinks the negotiations will be particularly difficult, especially in such a tight timeframe.
