Neil Moors wrote:It's good for consumers - but I wonder what British companies make of the imbalance in what they can do versus what EU companies can do.
It's an interesting issue. The first thing is, of course, that the UK becomes non-compliant with WTO rules. In the short term, that probably means very little. We have no free trade deal with the EU and, as such, they are enforcing the restrictions that 3rd country status entails.
We, on the other hand, are not reciprocating. Therefore other 3rd. status countries have a right to complain. If EU goods enter our economy free of checks, then why shouldn't theirs? I don't expect there will be immediate complaints but who knows how China, India etc might react in the longer term?
Secondly, the longer it continues, the more of a smugglers' charter it becomes. You may not see 'steak hache' in your local convenience store right now but sooner or later the loopholes will be exploited. Never had horse meat personally!