Because the EU is very powerful and negotiates very beneficial deals. When they say they're going to fast track deals for us, what they mean is "we know you desperately need trade deals so we're going to bleed you dry and you'll get what you're given".
No, the EU is incompetent, inward looking and is unable to negotiate anything of any kind. It's managed one with South Korea and an unratified deal with Canada in all this time. Australia already has deals with China, India and the USA, far exceeding the quality of what the EU has achieved. And no, that's something you've invented. The USA has for example suggested the UK can join the TPP, which is obviously an already existing framework of trade liberalisation.
The EU is currently negotiating TTIP with the US, and it's only taking so long because the EU is negotiating very hard to protect the interests of its member states. Our government won't be doing that because 1. We desperately need deals and 2. The Tories were one of the strongest supporters of TTIP in the EU.
It's taking so long because that's the EU's m.o. - Why do something in one day if you can stretch it out over a week and put it on expenses? And from the sounds of TTIP, the UK is getting a lucky escape.
It's worth considering that a FTA with China would mean the end of the British manufacturing industry. All the unskilled workers whinging about there being no jobs (while unemployment is the lowest it's been for several decades) would end up in a situation where there really are no jobs.
No it wouldn't. Cheap Chinese steel and consumer electronics isn't going to put BAE or Rolls-Royce out of business. British manufacturing is highly skilled. Most jobs are already unattainable for unskilled workers, and as such they are a red herring and have no relevance in the equation.
Membership of the common market requires free movement of people. There is nothing to prevent a different, conventional free trade deal, such that the EU has with South Korea and is trying to ratify with Canada.
Membership of the common market requires free movement of people. There is nothing to prevent a different, conventional free trade deal, such that the EU has with South Korea and is trying to ratify with Canada.
That will mean tariffs and many more blocks. The UK trades much more with the EU than South Korea - the two are not comparable
We're a net importer, so we import more than we export. That means that the pound dropping will cost us more than it will make in export increases. More exports means absolutely nothing if it costs us more to make those exports.
I love how Brexiters are now blaming remainers for this. It's all because of us being too negative. If we just think happy thoughts it'll all go away.
I blame the successive governments that have sold our manufacturing base to Europe in the first place
No, a free trade deal by definition removes tariffs and blocks. It won't be on par with having access to the common market, but it's better than the standard default a regular country faces. The UK does indeed trade much more with the EU, and is in a trade deficit with the EU, which makes it more likely that the EU will negotiate a deal with the UK. I doubt Germany will be willing to suffer such a huge hit to it's exports simply to appease Juncker.
Due to the currency crash is it not technically speaking still down? Not to mention the effects of Brexit are still likely to come later like a tidal wave if or when it actually happens.