The UK's vision of itself as a post-Brexit global trade powerhouse is probably an illusion, according to Sam Lowe, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. Supporters of Brexit argue that the UK will become a major player in global trade once it is free of European red tape. But Lowe says there are many reasons why Britain would not be able to compete with countries like China and India if it left the EU.
The UK's vision of itself as a post-Brexit global trade powerhouse is probably an illusion, according to Sam Lowe, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. Supporters of Brexit argue that the UK will become a major player in global trade once it is free of European red tape. But countries such as the US and Australia are likely to make unacceptable demands during trade talks, and once ambition comes up against political reality, the UK is likely to realise it is "really quite European after all", said Lowe.