Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that trade with the EU is very important, then added, “Even more important than the USA…” The Telegraph newspaper picked this up and used it as a headline, and they didn’t like the comparison to the USA. That’s understandable. The Chancellor doesn’t have to please everyone.
Are her statements wrong? No! Why is trade with the EU more important than with the USA? We’ll list a few reasons, but first, let’s say this: there are journalists in the UK media who belong to a club of USA worshippers. Most likely, the vast majority of them are US citizens and believe that the UK should follow the USA, putting the USA ahead of the UK. They have an inferiority complex; they just haven’t learned to trust their own country.
Now, let’s explain why the EU is more important than the USA.
1- The EU market has nearly 600 million people. The USA is a market of 350 million.
2- The USA is thousands of kilometers away from Europe. Buying, selling, and shipping goods takes a long time. Longer time means higher costs.
3- And then there’s the unstable Trump at the head of the USA. He’s threatening to increase tariffs and close the market. You can’t trade with a country that doesn’t inspire confidence.
4- In trade with the EU, transportation costs are much lower because time and distance are shorter.
5- Americans can’t travel thousands of kilometers to this country, but EU citizens can come and go daily. This means relief for businesses.
6- Tariffs will decrease or be eliminated. A decrease in food prices is expected.
7- Reaching and entering the markets of China and Asian countries is much easier. A common market with the USA means serving the interests of the USA. This makes you a slave to the USA. If you act otherwise, the USA will start threatening you. A single market is death.
Also, what Reeves said is true: After Trump’s tariff threats, all European countries should be much closer together. A madman like Trump cannot be given the chance to disgrace the world.
This is a message to USA fans.