[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

What a crass position you are taking, jfman! Any business worth its salt would have planned to exit the EU with a deal and to exit without a deal. A pretty binary choice, and they have known this from the get-go. The third option, now dismissed, was to stay in the EU, which would have meant no change.

Why? Government policy for over two years was to leave with a deal. As the forum arch-capitalist willing to sacrifice tens of thousands of lives for a couple of percentage points on GDP, why would companies waste money planning for an eventuality that wasn't Government policy?

The Chinese? Well, that presents a really great opportunity if they keep within international rule of law, but in the absence of that, have you taken a look at a globe recently? Still plenty of opportunities out there.

But you are not an entrepreneurial type of person, so you just don't see them.

At no point have I denied there are opportunities - I've been clear though that the situation is challenging, a challenge you I don't think you underestimate, but simply I think you ignore for ideological reasons.

No China trade deal, no EU trade deal, if Trump gets beat in November how does a US trade deal go with Biden?

Maybe so, but that iswhat the EU wants. You don't get it, do you?

Well, let's start by not being so negative about leaving the EU, then.

Are you dictating to others on the forum they aren't entitled to be sceptical? It's embarrassing Old Boy, although unsurprising given the amount there is to be sceptical of about your blue-sky plans where hope is all we need to succeed

No, we're not. We just want a no-tariff trade deal with no strings. Pray, tell me what is wrong with that, and don't forget to look at trade deals everywhere else around the world.

The EU is not the centre of the universe, jfman. I hope I am not the first to break it to you.

At no point have I ever claimed the EU is the centre of the universe. I'm making one simple point here, which you are struggling with apparently so rehashing old debates that expose your own naivety (China trade deal for example).

12 extra months leaves us better prepared to negotiate trade deals ready to go on day 1 at the end of the transition. None of your hope, or optimism, changes that fact.