Former European Trade Commissioner briefs members on likelihood of post-Brexit FTAs

Former European Trade Commissioner and Chairman of Global Counsel Lord Mandelson briefed Asia House corporate members and took part in a roundtable discussion on the implications of the UK decision to leave the EU on Thursday.

Lord Mandelson had warned against  the UK leaving the EU in a speech at Asia House held during the UK-ASEAN Dialogue on 13 October 2015 at Asia House. To see the video click below:-

Topics discussed at the packed briefing included the capacity of Whitehall to negotiate FTAs (free trade agreements) with the rest of the world; the length of time and what is involved for the UK to exit and renegotiate a trade deal with the EU; the likelihood of the UK forming FTAs with India, China and the USA; the possibility of a general election in the UK;  what the UK might have to do about agreements it has within existing FTAs the EU has with other countries post-Brexit;  the perspective of the EU Commission on the vote and on Brexit, the positives and negatives of a Norway, Switzerland or Canada-style deal the UK might explore with the EU; how other countries might view and prioritise FTAs with the UK and the view of Asian corporates, particularly Chinese investors, on Brexit.

Corporate members represented at the table included Harvey Nash, Mitsui, Eversheds, HSBC, KPMG, ABP, Standard Chartered, McKinsey, De La Rue, Arup, NATS, Howard Kennedy, Linklaters and Heathrow Airport.

naomi.canton@asiahouse.co.uk

The next event in the Asia House Brexit Series is a private briefing with Jeremy Browne, Special Representative for the City of London to the European Union. He will brief Asia House corporate members on the expectations of future developments in the UK following the EU referendum result on 15 July. For more information click here.

To see all the upcoming events in the Asia House Brexit Series click here.

To read more about the Asia House Brexit Series click here.

Would you be interested in becoming a corporate member of Asia House? Please email Charlie.Humphreys@asiahouse.co.uk