02-05-2017, 02:50
This is all just posturing by both sides, this sort of rhetoric should have been expected from both sides but in the end they will overall meet somewhere in the middle. Some topics will be driven hard by one side, other topics by the others, but as with all negotiations you will take a loss on some things to win on others depending on the goals you set and the importance of the topic to each side.
As regards keeping the negotiations secret, then it would be naive and foolish to lay all your cards on the table before they actually get going!! As you say keeping the EUs stance on issue will be virtually impossible considering the number of people involved but May should keep her cards close to her chest in the hope of getting as good a deal as she can, doesn't mean it will be a great deal or even a good one, but it might be the best we can get. The EU are not going for transparency either, they are putting out some particular points that they intend to push hard but that doesn't mean they won't compromise on them if they need to.
As regards trade between the UK and EU, then this will have to be worked out because its too important to both sides. We import more from the EU than we export to them, so we have more to lose but when you consider the value of our exports to the EU (230b in 2015) then neither side can afford to lose this trade. We have a trade deficit with Germany of over 25 billion, it is not in Germany's interests to not strike a deal to allow German companies to continue to benefit from the UK market, just as much as its not in our interests either. Sure some companies will possibly move to keep their share, but likewise you may see some EU companies who are reliant on the UK market to move to the UK to maintain their sales there.
As regards keeping the negotiations secret, then it would be naive and foolish to lay all your cards on the table before they actually get going!! As you say keeping the EUs stance on issue will be virtually impossible considering the number of people involved but May should keep her cards close to her chest in the hope of getting as good a deal as she can, doesn't mean it will be a great deal or even a good one, but it might be the best we can get. The EU are not going for transparency either, they are putting out some particular points that they intend to push hard but that doesn't mean they won't compromise on them if they need to.
As regards trade between the UK and EU, then this will have to be worked out because its too important to both sides. We import more from the EU than we export to them, so we have more to lose but when you consider the value of our exports to the EU (230b in 2015) then neither side can afford to lose this trade. We have a trade deficit with Germany of over 25 billion, it is not in Germany's interests to not strike a deal to allow German companies to continue to benefit from the UK market, just as much as its not in our interests either. Sure some companies will possibly move to keep their share, but likewise you may see some EU companies who are reliant on the UK market to move to the UK to maintain their sales there.