Simple.
The EU makes WTO agreements.
Nation states cant.
Therefore JohnD's question has no point.
Like all remainers he is only interested in making a case for a current state of affairs with no consideration for the future.
And like all left wing remainers, never gives an answer how he reconciles his socialist principles with his support for a neo liberal project.
https://www.newstatesman.com/politi...-protect-workers-rights-it-has-destroyed-them
So your a member of a club you agree to the terms. Are you saying renege?
John point (he can clarify) was which country trades on WTO basis alone anywhere in the world.
Why dont countries just trade on WTO terms only if it's such a great option? Why do they enter into Trade agreements?
Remainers position is clear. As a leaver you need to define exit, or your vision of it.
Also that articlearti posted the link to Martin Weale comment is dead. If you want to make an argument based on an unconfirmed comment then at least let me provide his actual opinion.
https://www.ft.com/content/123dcf90-ebd0-11e7-bd17-521324c81e23
Martin Weale, professor of economics, King’s College London and former member of the MPC Unclassified.
The worst-case scenario — leaving the EU without any transition arrangement in place — now looks as though it will be avoided. But it is still very unclear whether it will be possible to negotiate an agreement which is only slightly, rather than appreciably, worse than we have at the moment. Over the medium term, with fewer gains from trade than the current arrangements allow, it seems likely that income will be materially depressed. But twelve months ago
I was still hoping that the UK would negotiate an arrangement much like single market membership. It remains my view that is the best way of avoiding material long-term damage. The government’s position will, however, need to change for that to happen. With a reasonable [degree of certainty] I expect about five per cent of GDP to be lost over the next ten years. But there will be a major industry in establishing what the effect of Brexit was, and, as always, there will be no definitive answer.
