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  I am less convinced of that than you are Paul
  
  They are currently not our most important trade partner - that is the EU (no matter what we might think of them)
  The UKs top 5 trade partners in Oct 2016 were
  Exports
  USA - £4.1 bn (+7%), Germany £2.8bn (-7%), France £1.7bn, Netherlands £1.7bn (+4%), Ireland £1.6bn (+7%)
  Total exports were £26.8bn (+5.4%)
  Imports
  Germany £5.3bn (-12%), China £3.9bn (-6%), USA £3.3bn (-8%), Netherlands £3.1bn (-3.5%), France £2bn (-3%)
  Total imports £39.6bn (+5.8%) [note this was £5.9 down on Sept 16]
  (note percent movements are compared to Oct 15)
  
  We have numerous lopsided treaties with the USA most notably the current extradition treaty that treats US citizens better than ours and provides the US authorities with greater rights than we have.
  
  There has been no reality to the "special relationship" since the late 40's - the relationship since then has been very much in their favour not ours.
  
  The US brand of rapacious capitalism has destroyed more of our businesses than our own inept governments and bloody minded union barons ever managed.
  
  US banks were responsible for the 2008 crash and subsequent global travails (though the US Treasury at least held them more responsible than ours did...).
  
  US Foreign Policy has lead to numerous armed conflicts around the globe, exacerbated many local situations and played a lead role (along with their client states Israel & Saudi Arabia) in the rise of Militant salafist Islam
  
  From where I stand the world could do with them taking a back seat, perhaps even shutting themselves in their bedroom and not coming out for a while

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