UK & EU Agree Post-Brexit Trade Deal

[RichardCoulter]

Putting politics to one side, do people think it's sensible to leave completely at the end of the transition period in the event of no deal being agreed?

My concern is that the effects of the Coronavirus itself will affect the negotiation process and that it is said that it will produce an economic crisis as bad as the 9/11 situation.

Many argue that Brexit won't cause this economic problems to happen, but should we risk the economic effects of leaving with no deal on top of this crisis, or would it be prudent to extend the transitional period for a time?

I know that Johnson has pinned his popularity on leaving if no deal is reached and introduced legislation to prevent an extension, but I think that most people would accept that dealing with this pandemic must take precedence.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Putting politics to one side, do people think it's sensible to leave completely at the end of the transition period in the event of no deal being agreed?

My concern is that the effects of the Coronavirus itself will affect the negotiation process and that it is said that it will produce an economic crisis as bad as the 9/11 situation.

Many argue that Brexit won't cause this economic problems to happen, but should we risk the economic effects of leaving with no deal on top of this crisis, or would it be prudent to extend the transitional period for a time?

I know that Johnson has pinned his popularity on leaving if no deal is reached and introduced legislation to prevent an extension, but I think that most people would accept that dealing with this pandemic must take precedence.

For what my opinion is worth, the EU showed very clearly how it likes to conduct negotiations at the time of the Withdrawal Agreement.

However, in the first instance they were able to play on the weakness of a shoddy prime minister.

The current PM shows no such weakness and the evidence last year was that they were prepared to make minor movement. It was minor because all they really allowed was for Stormont to be able to close down the customs arrangements.

The question is: Can we glean any possibility that the EU will be realistic, less arrogant and come to the bones of a deal before June.

The pandemic is irrelevant to the outcome and the Guvmin should keep up the pressure on the EU via the ministers not concerned with Coronavirus.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

[COLOR="Blue"]For what my opinion is worth, the EU showed very clearly how it likes to conduct negotiations at the time of the Withdrawal Agreement.

However, in the first instance they were able to play on the weakness of a shoddy prime minister.

The current PM shows no such weakness and the evidence last year was that they were prepared to make minor movement. It was minor because all they really allowed was for Stormont to be able to close down the customs arrangements.

The question is: Can we glean any possibility that the EU will be realistic, less arrogant and come to the bones of a deal before June.

The pandemic is irrelevant to the outcome and the Guvmin should keep up the pressure on the EU via the ministers not concerned with Coronavirus.

I think that the pandemic is relevant as leaders will have their minds & time on the pandemic and key people may be infected by the virus itself.

As it's clear that the Coronavirus will have an extremely serious negative economic impact (shares that I hold have taken a battering already) I think It's worth revisiting the transitional period at least.

Leavers have either said that they don't believe that leaving with no deal will cause any economic fallout or that it will, but It's worth it long term. This was before the pandemic though.

For balance, some leavers have said that they think that this is simply a ruse by remainers to keep us aligned to the EU for a bit longer. I don't think that this is the case as we've already left and a reasonable extension is now neither here nor there in the greater scheme of things.

At the moment Jhnson is adamant that there will be no extension:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...s-says-johnson

But I think he will at least privately consider it in the light of these serious developments since.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I think that the pandemic is relevant as leaders will have their minds & time on the pandemic and key people may be infected by the virus itself.

<SNIP>

I understand the point you've made but, logically, I see no reason why the UK's Brexit team, who are not involved with Cornavirus, should stop negotiating with Barnier's lot who are also not dealing with Coronavirus.

We must keep the pressure on the EU.

[RichardCoulter]

At least we can now use the Coronavirus to our advantage during the transition to keep out those that we don't want here by extending our 'concerns' about it.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

At least we can now use the Coronavirus to our advantage during the transition to keep out those that we don't want here by extending our 'concerns' about it.

As long as we play with a straight bat, I'll be happy.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I think we need to focus our efforts on the Coronavirus. As Chris says, the request for an extension will most likely happen in the Summer and not now.

The guys negotiating the trade deal are not the same ones dealing with the coronavirus, so we can do both.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The guys negotiating the trade deal are not the same ones dealing with the coronavirus, so we can do both.

We can do both, if you don't think that Ministers will be distracted by Coronavirus, economic recession and other matters.

[RichardCoulter]

And what if members of either negotiatimg team have to go into self isolation or contract the virus themselves?

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

And what if members of either negotiatimg team have to go into self isolation or contract the virus themselves?

Ever heard of video conferencing ?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Paul

Ever heard of video conferencing ?

Won't work if any become ill.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Won't work if any become ill.

Not sure it's also the best medium for 200 people anyway.

The fact is that the talks due this week in London have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/h...-a9398966.html
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk...-cancelled-due

[RichardCoulter]

I didn't realise that the negotiating teams comprised of 200 people

[jfman]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I didn't realise that the negotiating teams comprised of 200 people

You'll probably find those are just the face to face ones, with hundreds of support staff in London and elsewhere researching and briefing.

[Taf]

The EU has announced that any materials or equipment that could be used against the coronavirus cannot be exported outside the EU without specific permission to do so by the EU.

And what if non-EU countries decided to respond in kind?