Two graphs show how important the EU is for British trade
According to Boris Johnson, Brexit was about liberating Britain from the shackles of the European Union, freeing us to taste the sweet nectar of global trade.
Where might Bozza’s colleague, disgraced former Defence Secretary and alleged International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, scamper off to first, with his briefcase stuffed with fountain pens and parchment, to sign the holy grail of deals abroad?
As these two graphs from the Office for National Statistics show, the juiciest of all trade deals would undoubtedly be with, er, the European Union, which receives nearly half of all UK exports (47 per cent), and from which Britain imports more goods than the rest of the world combined (53 per cent).
UK imports 2015
EU imports were worth £290,621 million to the UK in 2015, compared to £229,245 million from the rest of the world, and £27,368 million from the European Free Trade Association.
The biggest importers by country were the United States, with £59,258 million, and Germany, with £70,363 million.
UK imports 2015
UK exports to the EU were worth £230,031 million in 2015, against £259,955 million for the rest of the world, and £27,460 million for the EFTA.
Our top destinations for exports by country were the United States, with £96,425 million, and Germany with £48,501 million.
We’ll just have to hope the glorious new trade deals with the EU we’ve been promised by the government will be as good as the ones we already have.
Adam Barnett is staff writer for Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBarnett13
One Response to “Brexit means leaving our top trade partners then begging for a better deal”
Mike Stallard
OK So I am a Tory Troll.
Mrs May and Mr Davis’ team of 3000 “experts” are making an enormous and easily avoidable mistake in assuming that Bill Cash, John Redwood and Mr Lilley represent the only Brexit Option. they have not got a clue! They have not done their homework and they are leading her into cutting off all trade with Europe when we become a “third country” outside the walls of the EU fortress.
No.
We need to remain in the EEA and to join the other pillar which consists of free nations who are out of the ECJ, able to discuss immigration rules, free to make trading arrangements with the rest of the world and who meet regularly to discuss the future Directives of the EEA.
But, no. That is not Brexit, apparently (who said?)