Invitation Only Research Event
25 January 2019 - 8:30am to 9:45am
Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE
Event participants
Deborah Bronnert, Director General, Economic and Global Issues, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Simon Tilford, Deputy Director, Global Economy and Finance Department, Chatham House
Chair: Marianne Schneider-Petsinger, Geoeconomics Fellow, US and Americas Programme, Chatham House
For many supporters of Brexit, the prospect of an independent trade policy is one of the principal economic opportunities outside of the EU. However, negotiating balanced and beneficial agreements with partners beyond Europe – from the Gulf and the US to India and China – could create difficult political trade offs and potentially pit commercial and economic interests against political and ethical considerations.
At this event, participants will consider the following questions:
- How could an independent UK trade policy affect Britain’s approach to foreign and security policy – and vice-versa? How will it affect the UK's bilateral relationships?
- To what extent might the UK use trade policy to advance broader political objectives?
- Might other countries attach conditions beyond trade upon the UK?
- If UK trade and trade relationships are rebalanced away from Europe, how might this affect the UK’s wider strategic interest?
Attendance at this event is by invitation only.