The EU: IN or OUT?

Dird

Kohoutek wrote: »

the economic consequences of leaving the EU single market (our biggest trading partner) would be severe.

Why is that? We seem to be exporting to non-EU countries perfectly fine. We already do not have a level playing field in the EU. It is cheaper for a Polish person (the few remaining in Poland) to buy a product made in Poland. If the British product is so much better that they're willing to pay more then they still would with a small tariff, just like they do with iPhones/Samsungs

People have said (on the remain side!) that people's pay would rise on brexit and house prices would become more stable; I don't call that severe. Companies also may be more likely to give British lower earners 40 hour contracts instead of 0-16 hours that they will share with a Romanian guy & Polish girl fighting for overtime

Kohoutek

Dird wrote: »

Why is that? We seem to be exporting to non-EU countries perfectly fine.

Well that is one of the biggest issues.

There isn't a single trade agreement between the UK and non-EU countries today. All the agreements are between the whole of EU and non-EU countries (this is because the EU is a trading bloc). If we leave, then we very likely have to negotiate our own trade agreements with non-EU countries. This will take a very long time (it did with the existing EU / non EU agreements) and obviously our bargaining power as a country of 64 million is much less than our bargaining power as part of trading bloc of 500 million.

bigadaj

Kohoutek wrote: »

Well that is one of the biggest issues.

There isn't a single trade agreement between the UK and non-EU countries today. All the agreements are between the whole of EU and non-EU countries (this is because the EU is a trading bloc). If we leave, then we very likely have to negotiate our own trade agreements with non-EU countries. This will take a very long time (it did with the existing EU / non EU agreements) and obviously our bargaining power as a country of 64 million is much less than our bargaining power as part of trading bloc of 500 million.

Maybe but any eu tradin agreements are going to be long winded on the basis that they are representing 28 countries rather than 1.

I'm personally uncomfortable with the fact that the uk as the fifth biggest economy in the world doesn't gphave an independent say on trade issues, such as a seat at the WTO for example.

Dird

Kohoutek wrote: »

There isn't a single trade agreement between the UK and non-EU countries today. All the agreements are between the whole of EU and non-EU countries

You seem to be unaware of the fact that, being part of this super-bloc aka European Empire, we have no FTA with America. We have no FTA with China. Yet both of them are still 2 of our biggest trading partners.

On size, Iceland has a trade agreement with China. Birmingham is 3 times the size of Iceland.

If China joining the WTO has not destroyed British exporters, the potential of small tariffs to 30 extra countries will not.

Look at all the !!!!!! non-EU countries you get to trade freely with thanks to your EU membership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_free_trade_agreements
Excluding the quasi-EU countries (Swiss, Norway, Luxe...as they're conveniently located) the rest are either tiny to small markets or poor countries with the exception of Korea

dingdong3000

one of the best and most informative videos I've seen so far on the EU.

https://www.facebook.com/UniversityofLiverpool/videos/1293361974024537/

uk1

Will the price of my fishfinger sandwiches be effected if we brexit?

I believe that these are my cod given right.

Thanks.

Jeff

bowlhead99

That was pretty amusing, apart from the effected/affected thing which was jarring and disrupted the flow. 7/10.

Dird

dingdong3000 wrote: »

one of the best and most informative videos I've seen so far on the EU.

For a die hard remainer, perhaps.
Completely avoids the difficult topic for remainers of uncontrolled, low-skilled workers flooding your NHS and schools.
Avoids listing the irrelevant free trade agreements the EU has, only that we would lose them as if they hold significance beyond Korea/Israel.
Says nothing of the negative impacts of staying, just that it's "not perfect"; hardly impartial

BananaRepublic

Kohoutek wrote: »

Well even if that happened, the economic consequence of a lower rebate would be very minor; the economic consequences of leaving the EU single market (our biggest trading partner) would be severe.

That is a key lie by the remain crowd. EU officials have admitted that we would get a decent deal, not so far off what we have, as they need our trade. So, the Japanese would continue to invest here, as an inroad to the EU, and the City would be largely happy. We would be free of political interference, but would have to conform to EU regulations on our exports to the EU, which is normal anyway for a trade deal. We would control our borders, although I suspect we would take in lots of immigrants anyway. So the key advantage is no political control, and the EU would be unable to apply laws that for example discriminated against our finance sector and other industries. So we would in fact be better off, as they could not damage us so easily. And I think we would still have to pay a membership fee as per Norway.

America wants us to remain so we submit to TTIP, a very dodgy looking issue. Europe wants us to remain as we pay in so much. But overall for us I feel that Brexit is the best choice, even if we will get 10% less sun and 15% more rain, and a few zombies roaming the streets i.e. disappointed Remainers.

maxie014

The uk to the eu is like an old loaded uncle you cant stand! you hate him but have to keep in with him for all the handouts,inheritance and benefits,you cant quite bring yourself to have nothing to do with him just slowly try and bleed him dry!