Brexit: The lead up to, and the repercussions of, Britain's proposed exit from the EU

Brexit is one of the most important events of the last decade, but it is still relatively poorly understood. This paper will look at the impact of Brexit, as well as analyse the development of British trade policy, in order to set out potential options for Brexit and a post-Brexit British trade policy. In order to understand Brexit in its full context, it is necessary to understand how British policy has fluctuated over the centuries, as well as look at the potential options for a Brexit deal and what these will mean for Britain going forward. As a relatively recent event, academic work on Brexit is relatively sparse, and previous work often fails to analyse it beyond its immediate impacts. By looking at a history of British trade policy; this paper aims to anaylse Brexit in the context of Britain’s frequent shifts in strategic priorities. Focusing on a review of the existing literature on British trade policy, and that on Brexit, this paper will look at the development of British trade policy, as well as Britain’s relationship with its primary partners (the United States, the EU, and its Empire), and set out both this history and the potential options for future British relationships and policy. While the exact outcome of Brexit is not yet known, this paper will set out some of the potential scenarios. Once Britain leaves the EU, it will have the chance to create its own trade policy independently for the first time in several decades. Although it may face resistance, there is an opportunity for Britain to grasp the chance to create a liberalized 21st century trade policy that caters for its services based economy. Implementing such a strategy could go a long way towards minimizing the inevitable negative consequences of Brexit.

Grantor

Department of Commercial Law

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Grunder, John Jay

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ismail, Faizel

• International Trade Law

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31371

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/31371