ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Sir Vince Cable on post-Brexit trade: 'We are not going to revive the empire'

"We are not going to revive the empire," by doing trade deals with the likes of India, Cable told a conference.

Article 50 What Next conference

LONDON — Britain's former business and trade minister believes Britain's ability to trade on a global scale will "deteriorate" rather than improve after Brexit and says the scope for new trade deals is minimal.

Speaking at an event in London on Monday, Sir Vince Cable said that continual assertions that Brexit will free the UK from the shackles of EU trade agreements and allow Britain to trade more with nations around the world are a fallacy.

"One of those canards is the idea that there are trade deals out there that are waiting to be signed," he told policy group The UK in a Changing Europe's "Article 50: What Next?" conference.

"Our trade relationships and access to markets will deteriorate as a matter of fact — not only with the EU member states but with other countries that Britain has a relationship with through the EU."

ADVERTISEMENT

Cable, who was Secretary of State for Business between 2010 and 2015, cited frequently used examples like China and India, saying that doing a deal with either of these countries could prove close to impossible.

"The great fallacy is that somehow we can sign up to great liberating agreements with India and China," he said.

"The Chinese are interested in the UK but nothing to do with trade deals. The Indians already sent May packing by saying that to her 'fine, we are happy to do more trade but we want free visas for our employees and students but you're not willing to give them so get on your bike'."

He added: "We are not going to revive the empire."

Cable, who lost his seat as a Liberal Democrat MP during the 2015 General Election, has consistently criticised the government's public optimism about Britain's future trade relationships, telling Business Insider in an interview in February, that Prime Minister Theresa May and her team are "completely unprepared and completely ill-equipped" to strike trade deals once Britain leaves the EU.

ADVERTISEMENT

"These things are very complex and very difficult and the government is totally unprepared for it," he said at the time.

On Monday, Cable did acknowledge that Britain should be able to strike new deals with the likes of the USA, New Zealand, and Australia, but said that such deals are not going to offset the negatives that leaving the European Single Market will bring about.

"The potential energy that we are going to get from these deals is minimal and limited to a small handful of countries."

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT