Post-Brexit trade negotiations: When chased by a bear, don't be the slowest one

By George ILIEV
Brexit Metaphor No 15

When you are being chased by a bear, you don't need to run faster than the bear; you only need to run faster than the slowest member of your group. At least that's what experienced girl and boy scouts will tell you. Sadly, this advice comes too late for Brexiting Britain, which voluntarily agreed to become the slowest among all EU member states: for the last two years and for the foreseeable future.

The world of international trade is not a peaceful sunlit meadow of flowers and bees; it is a dark forest where the big bears are chasing the slower animals: where global trading powers are constantly and ruthlessly jostling for influence and wealth.

Organisations and societies have formal hierarchies and informal pecking orders. Britain used to be at the top of the totem pole in the EU, despite what Brexiteers might tell you. But any future trade deal that Britain may negotiate with the EU can be vetoed by even the smallest EU country: Malta, Luxembourg or Cyprus.

Being outside the EU's protective tent exposes Britain to multiple bears from across the world: from trading giants like the US, China, Japan and Russia, to mini bears like New Zealand or Chile, which are all demanding their pound of flesh in the renegotiation of WTO quotas.

Is there a solution for the UK? Maybe get back into the EU tent and stay in the EU Customs Union after all.

Brown bear (Source: Wikipedia)

 
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(This article is part of a daily series, with 146 more Brexit Metaphors to follow until Brexit day, March 29, 2019.)