By John Redwood for the Commentator
Read original at: http://www.thecommentator.com/article/6614/five_reasons_why_brexit_will_be_fine_without_a_deal
The latest scare stories doing the rounds seek to suggest that the UK could not trade successfully with the rest of the EU from outside the single market and customs union if there is no deal. I have explained in general terms why I think this is wrong, but there is still some demand for more detail.
I will supply it. It is always difficult tackling nonsense, as there are no limits to the amount of nonsense you have to tackle. I am choosing the most common examples.
1. “Planes will not be able to fly to and from the continent and the UK the day after we leave, as there will be no Air Services Agreement in place”, say some gloom mongers. Many air travel routes carry on daily around the world without a formal Air Services Agreement. All you need is a landing permission in the airport you are going to, and you need to get a flight path from air traffic control in controlled space.
If there is no deal then the UK will of course allow EU carriers to continue with the landing slots they currently have, and the rest of the EU will do the same for UK carriers. The EU will not want to ban plane loads of UK tourists and other visitors from going to their countries and will not want to lose the landing revenues at their airports.
2. “The need for customs clearance will mean massive queues at our borders, with disruption to the supply system for the UK”, argue some pessimists. Both the EU and the UK as a member of the EU are currently putting in new streamlined customs procedures to handle third party imports.
These will work fine for the rest of EU goods as well, if necessary. Under customs simplified procedures for freight there is already a system of electronic registration of consignments, with the ability to undertake customs clearance at the importers premises once the goods have been successfully delivered.
The EU will want decent procedures on the UK side of the channel as they export so much to us, including big volumes of perishable agricultural products.
Read original at: http://www.thecommentator.com/article/6614/five_reasons_why_brexit_will_be_fine_without_a_deal

