While the deadline draws near, the UK is no closer to a trade deal between Britain and the Europe, with distinct possibility that the UK may be left to deal with its largest trading partner under WTO rules, something that will no doubt leave Britain in a state of peril.
With the British Prime Minister apparently resigned to a no deal Brexit, an increasingly likely outcome, which would result in the UK become an example of things to come should other EU members consider the same. Yet, at the last minute, the EU has said it us willing to compromise on since issue, taking the UK by surprise
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has started to issue warnings to the British public and businesses to start to prepare for the idea of a no deal Brexit, knowing time is fast running out for the UK when it comes to securing their future on both an economic and social front.
“The trade talks are over - the EU have effectively ended them yesterday when they said they did not want to change their negotiating position.”
Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister
For Mr Johnson, it appears that the admission of defeat comes long before the final decision as it appears that the EU has always had, and continues to maintain, the upper hand when it comes to the negotiations, leaving the British very red faced in the process.
Take it or leave or leave it
French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed the upper hand when it comes to the position of the EU when it comes to the talks, with the French President basically telling the British to ‘take it or leave it’ in terms of the deal, suggesting that the EU has nothing to lose by seeing the British leave the union.
In fact, so strong is the EU hand that issues above and beyond the economy are in play in the post-Brexit era, with Macron seeking to go as far as punishing the British with an energy blockade, should the British refuse to give in on concessions such as fishing, something that the British can ill afford with the likes of Electricity de France, or EDF, being a major energy supplier in Britain.
The EU surprises the UK
But in spite of the tensions between Macron and Johnson, the EU is still showing signs that an agreement can be made, although, at no point will the EU sacrifice its reputation in order to appease the British, as reiterated by the EU Commission Vice President, Maros Sefcovic.
Of course we will definitely focus on achieving a good agreement between the EU and the UK as we underline that it has to be a fair agreement for both sides we are not going to sign an agreement at any cost, but we do have the discussion between the chief negotiators this afternoon, and the European Union is ready to work until the last minute for the good agreement for both parties.
EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic
With Britain clearly sinking from the pressure of Brexit, and the notion of second lockdown just days away, can the island nation escape from its inevitable downfall?
A costly affair
The British economy will no doubt suffer immensely in the post-Brexit era; with figures suggesting the cost of Brexit could set the British back nearly 200 billion pounds in losses. But add to the financial impact the cost of the COVID-19 virus on the UK economy, and the fact that the majority of the country is going back into a national lockdown, has the timing of Brexit proven to a thorn in the side of the British government, who clearly find themselves out of their depth.
The impact of Brexit and the economic uncertainty of the Coronavirus is also having an impact on the nation on a wider global scale too, with no evidence of other nations queuing up to do business with the British. Other close trading partners such as the U.S. have mentioned that they are in no rush to do a deal with Britain, unless of course the terms and conditions are clearly in their favour. So much for the “special relationship”.
Briton belief in a brighter future shattered by Brexit
At the end of 2019, nobody in Britain would have thought that the Brexit talks and ongoing negotiations with the Europeans would have been a major issue as they truly believed in a brighter future as an independent nation free to choose their own path. However, the arrival of the Coronavirus and its subsequent impact on the British economy changed all that.
So bad has the UK suffered through a combination of both Brexit and the COVID-19 virus in terms of its economic prowess that Moody’s, the credit rating agency, has downgraded the UK’s rating from Aa2 to Aa3, which although still strong, is sign that investors are starting to doubt Britain as a stable financial player.
NHS for sale
This clearly embarrassing piece of news for the British is something that will be reflected in the post-Brexit era, especially when it comes to securing trade deals outside of the EU bloc. However, as has already been demonstrated by the US for example, any deal with the Americans will come at a price for the British, with the likes of the NHS being touted as a prize for the US should they chose to do a deal with Britain, something that former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn discovered much to the shame of Johnson.
We have got evidence that under Boris Johnson the NHS is on sale and will be up for sale. He tried to cover it up in a Secret agenda, but today it's been exposed.
Jeremy Corbyn, Former Labour Party Leader
Over half of UK goods are from Europe
Yet closer to home, it seems the UK is even deeper in the dark when it comes to a future deal with its largest trading partner, the EU. Even under so called WTO rules, prices are to set to increase at an alarming rate, especially for the British consumer who relies on over 50% of their goods from the EU, with prices of food and vehicles all set to increase dramatically as set out below.
Agricultural Goods: 11.1%
Animal Products: 15.7%
Dairy Products: 35.4%
Cars: 10%
Source: The Week
The increase in price and the lack of a free and flowing border is likely to leave the UK with significant food shortages, a deeper and longer recession and more importantly, a notion of isolation, something that the tiny island floating off the coast of Europe can ill-afford.
Britain is risking a car-crash Brexit of food shortages, another recession and isolation.
CNN Business Edition