Brexit LIVE: Boris handed six-point blueprint by expert to make EU exit a huge success
Brexit Britain 'firing on all cylinders' says expert
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Shanker Singham, a former trade adviser to the UK Government and US trade representative, has outlined a strategy to “maximise the opportunities and minimise the disruptions” of Brexit. Britain finally broke free from the shackles of the European Union on December 31, 2020, following the end of the Brexit transition period.
The UK has taken back control of its money, laws and borders as well as striking trade agreements with more than 50 non-EU countries – including a landmark free trade deal with Australia.
Brexit has also provided some unwanted obstacles with one of the most problematic being the trade disruption in Northern Ireland.
Mr Singham has put forward six areas where the UK should seek to change or explore in order to fulfil the potential of Brexit.
The CEO of the trade law and economic policy consultancy firm Competere has said changes firstly need to be made to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Writing in The Times, he said: “We have to find a way of moving border administration from ‘dumb’ customs processes requiring complex paperwork tied to the movement of the goods themselves, to smart processes connected to our knowledge of the trader.”
Mr Singham added the UK should move further away from EU regulations and warned not doing so risks “the end of a serious British external trade policy”.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has been leading talks with the US over a trade deal and Mr Singham has warned the Joe Biden administration has led to a change in priorities for Washington.
As a result, the trade expert has called for the UK to seek smaller deals with the US to lay the foundations for a more comprehensive agreement down the line.
Mr Singham added: “With the United States, where a change in administration has led to changed American priorities, we can negotiate smaller deals such as in financial services, mutual recognition of trusted trader programmes, data and digital agreements and mutual recognition agreements across more sectors than the US would be willing to do with the EU.
“This can be done as a down-payment on a larger deal.”
The UK has applied to join the lucrative Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trading bloc.
Mr Singham says “good progress” has been made to join the 11-nation alliance and highlighted the huge importance of getting an agreement over the line.
He added: “The partnership will be the platform trade agreement based on recognition of regulatory outcomes of the future and will challenge the World Trade Organisation if that body continues to fail to make progress in the newer areas of trade.”
The Prime Minister has outlined a vision for “Global Britain” and Mr Singham has insisted India should be at the forefront and insisted New Delhi “presents an opportunity where the UK’s highly focused offensive interests in legal and financial services”.
Finally, Brexit has ensured the UK Government has greater influence on business and competition laws and the trade expert has stressed the importance of the right domestic legislation.
Mr Singham added: “We will need to regulate in ways that ensure the least trade-restrictive and least anti-competitive regulation, consistent with a clearly stated, legitimate and measurable regulatory goal.”
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