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International Trade Blogs

The deteriorating politics of Northern Ireland has left the Government with no option other than to act on the Protocol
The Northern Ireland Protocol once again threatens to derail the UK-EU relationship. After months of talks between London and Brussels failed to reach mutually acceptable solutions, the Government has reached the conclusion it has no alternative but to start the process of introducing domestic legislation to alter the Protocol.

Ukraine reinforces the case for the Integrated Review
Military commentators have been quick to co-opt the war in Ukraine to their particular cause. In many cases that cause is a retreat from the modernising agenda of the Government’s Integrated Review (IR) in light of Putin’s deployment of traditional armoured forces. Supplying oxygen to these arguments are those not previously cheer-leaders for military spending, such as Jeremy Hunt, who call for a great increase in the defence budget but do not specify on what and why. These arguments are intuitive and seductive; combined, they build a momentum. They are also wrong.

Rees-Mogg will need Johnson’s full backing if he’s to deliver regulatory reform
All domestic Covid restrictions in England will end today, marking an important milestone as we emerge from an exceptional period of crisis. The macro-economic response to the pandemic understandably focused on damage limitation and maintaining employment, which has had a significant impact on the public finances. The painstaking work of supply-side reform has either taken a backseat or simply been overtaken by events.

Why be afraid of No Deal?
The risks can be managed and we still have some good bargaining chips, write Alexander Downer and Graham Gudgin.

What you didn’t know about the Irish Border – how technology can resolve the issue of the North/South frontier post-Brexit
David Trimble’s former Special Adviser – and Chief Economic Adviser to Policy Exchange – sets out how technology can ensure a low-profile border between North and South.

Europe’s Trade Problem: Closed markets that stay closed result in a defective approach to science and the management of risk evaluation
Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics critiques the European Union’s “ascientific” approach to trade regulation.

The Brexit White Paper – room for improvement
Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics Warwick Lightfoot – former Special Adviser to three Chancellors – assesses the Government’s Brexit White Paper and finds room for improvement.

What Does Chequers Mean for Northern Ireland?
In the first of a series by Policy Exchange experts reflecting on the Chequers Agreement and Brexit White Paper, our Chief Economic Adviser Dr Graham Gudgin reflects on their implications for the Irish border. Dr Gudgin, a former Special Adviser to the Northern Irish First Minister and leading expert on issues around the border, concludes that if the White Paper’s recommendations are implemented, the Northern Irish border ‘problem’ is largely solved.

Dr Graham Gudgin examines the likely options for a future trade relationship between the UK and EU
Policy Exchange’s Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Graham Gudgin, outlines the likely proposals to be put before Friday’s Cabinet and explores how they might work.

Don’t listen to the doom-mongers – why the UK (including Northern Ireland) can leave the Customs Union, avoid a hard border and preserve the Good Friday Agreement
Graham Gudgin, Chief Economic Adviser to Policy Exchange and a former special adviser to the Northern Ireland First Minister, and Ray Bassett, Senior Fellow for EU Affairs and a former Irish Ambassador to Canada, demonstrate that the UK can leave the Customs Union, avoid a ‘hard’ Irish Border and preserve the Good Friday Agreement.