I got in my inbox this morning a link to an article in the Spectator magazine that is well worth reading and which I will link to below.
The article, by Mr Ross Clark, is a detailed examination of why the anti-Brexit fearmongers are wrong. He states that because of preparation for Brexit and a growth in electronic customs clearances among other factors, there is unlikely to be any medium term problems with trade. The port of Calais for example is envisaging few problems post Brexit with UK to France traffic. Much we can see for ourselves is already prepared for and many of the problems that the Remainers and the Project Fear types are shroud waving about, such temporary shortages of certain medications, are problems that have been faced and solved before when other such shortages have occurred.
I concur with Mr Clark’s view that the main danger comes from the political rather than the trade side of things and any variables that have not been foreseen.
Mr Clark said:
As with so much in a no-deal Brexit, the real concern is political. President Emmanuel Macron may seek to make life difficult for cross-Channel traffic, especially if Britain attempts to exit the EU without paying the agreed £39 billion leaving bill. Under WTO rules, punitive delays are not allowed at borders. But might the French bend the rules? In the past, they have banned British beef when it suited them, in defiance of EU law. International trade rules might turn out to offer Britain scant protection.
The unknown factor is how motorists will behave in the event of a no-deal Brexit. If car drivers take fright and stay away from cross-Channel ports around the time of Brexit, traffic could end up flowing surprisingly well in the early days.
Read the rest of his piece via the link below:
I think that French governmental intransigence and the French chucking the toys out of the pram is a particular danger, but as Mr Clark states, we’ve faced these problems before as well.
