The theory Paul Krugman once wrote that if there were ever to be an Economists’ Creed, its first two points would be: (i) I believe in free trade and (ii) I understand the principle of comparative advantage. The latter supports the former. The theory predicts that countries are better off if they specialise in goods […]
Read moreMichael Johnson

Brexit and The Irish Border Issue
During the run-up to the UK referendum on European Union membership in June 2016 the difficulties which Brexit might cause in political, economic and administrative relations between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic were recognised, but not seriously considered. Since then the issue of Brexit and the Irish border – how to avoid creating some […]
Read moreA Tremendous Increase in UK-US Trade after Brexit?
US-UK Trade: what’s in IT? At the World Economic Forum meeting at Davos in January 2018 President Trump forecast a “tremendous” increase in trade between the US and the United Kingdom, presumably following Brexit. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested that the UK would be at the head of the queue for a new trade […]
Read moreTrade Remedies: Why do we need them and how do they work?
Michael Johnson, former UK Government trade negotiator and Advisor on International Trade Policy, answers the questions: What are trade remedies, why do we need them and how do they work?
Read moreThe UK’s Voice in the EU and the World: What difference will Brexit make?
Michael Johnson, former UK Government trade negotiator and Advisor on International Trade Policy, discusses the impacts of Brexit on the UK’s voice in the global forum. 22 November 2017 Historical background The UK has always been ambivalent about the EU and its three predecessor Communities[1]. Soon after the end of World War 2 Winston Churchill, who […]
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