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21 December 2016Alasdair Smith

Alasdair Smith is an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Sussex, and is a member of the UK Trade Policy Observatory.

In ‘Scotland’s place in Europe‘, published on 20 December, the Scottish Government affirms its wish that the whole UK should remain in the European single market and the EU customs union. If, however, the UK leaves the customs union and is ejected from the single market, the Scottish government wants Scotland to remain in the single market.

Commentators, by no means all of them instinctively unsympathetic to the Scottish Government’s case, have noted that the creation of a regulatory border between England and Scotland could be problematic. But the problems would not all be on the Scottish side. (more…)

December 21st, 2016

Posted In: UK- EU

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20 December 2016Rorden Wilkinson

In the season of goodwill, let’s not forget our responsibilities to developing countries when we leave the EU.

Rorden Wilkinson is Professor of International Relations and a fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory 

A great deal of the Brexit debate has focused on the possible shape of the UK’s trade architecture after 2019. It has, however, largely ignored how others—particularly developing countries—see or will be affected by the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU). I think this is to our peril and we should, with some urgency, turn our attention to thinking about the future of our relationship with the developing world. But we need to do so remembering to shoulder our responsibilities to weaker and poorer countries, extending ‘goodwill’ to all. (more…)

December 20th, 2016

Posted In: UK - Non EU

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16 December 2016Richard Tol

The United Kingdom may opt to leave the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for greenhouse gases. If so, a central plank of UK climate policy will need to be replaced at short notice. The UK is a large importer of emission permits, and meeting its climate policy targets would be much harder and dearer without the EU ETS. The impact on the EU would be limited, although UK permits circulating in the rest of the EU would lose their legal standing between Brexit and 2021. Non-EU countries take part in the EU ETS, and this appears to be the best option for the UK post-Brexit.

Richard Tol is Professor of Economics at the University of Sussex. (more…)

December 20th, 2016

Posted In: UK- EU

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14 December 2016Ingo Borchert

With exports of services worth £220 billion to the UK economy, we need to make sure that Brexit discussions don’t ignore this vital component of the UK’s trading environment.

Dr Ingo Borchert is Lecturer in Economics and a fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory. (more…)

December 14th, 2016

Posted In: UK- EU

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