ONE of the arguments used by pro-Brexiteers is that once free from the EU we will be free to negotiate our own trade deals.
The likes of India have been cited as an example of countries lining up to sign new deals with the UK and the future is exciting.
This is looking to me like another Brexit lie.
An independent economic think tank (Bruegel) which only quotes unbiased factual evidence cites the following.
Since the year 2000 EU trade with India has tripled to over 16 billion euros per annum while at the same time UK trade has remained static at roughly £1 billion.
The UK’s trade as a percentage of EU trade with India has fallen from 29 per cent to 10 per cent.
If India is happily increasing trade with the other 27 EU members what makes our government think we can trade more once we are out?
Similar worrying stats on Brexit are available on the Bruegel website.
I fear the true catastrophe of Brexit will not be accepted by Brexiteers until it is too late.
The referendum vote will be despised for generations to come.
Tony Taylor, Woodthorpe, York
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