Don’t underestimate the free trade agreement Britain just joined Opinion The UK’s entry into the CPTPP, the world's largest free trade area that does not include the US, EU or China, should not be underestimated.
Shipbroker shares fly on Iran war windfall Transport & Infrastructure Shares in Clarksons climbed as much as nine per cent on Monday, after the ship broker revealed a record performance in the first half of the year and told shareholders to expect full-year results “materially ahead” of expectations. Pre-tax profit at the shipping juggernaut was 39 per cent higher than the same period last year, [...]
‘I thought this would be drama-free’: Games Workshop pockets tariff reprieve Retail Games Workshop pocketed a £7.8 refund from the US administration after the Supreme Court rules Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs to be illegal, the company has said in another positive trading update. The Warhammer maker told investors it had initially paid US customs £12m to continue trading across the Atlantic, a considerable hit to the [...]
UK inks trade deal with Switzerland – despite shouting match July 13, 2026 The UK and Switzerland have inked a new free trade deal that ministers say will boost Britain’s services economy by some £5.2bn a year – despite talks breaking down just weeks ago to such an extent that both parties were “shouting at each other”. The agreement is the largest the UK has negotiated since it [...]
Singapore on Thames or the Sick Man of Europe?: The Economics of Brexit Ten Years from the Referendum July 9, 2026 Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Robert Johnson of the Centre for Cities analyse the economic impact of Brexit and its promise of deregulation and growth Since the Brexit referendum of 2016, and since actually leaving the EU in January 2021, the UK’s economic performance has been feeble. On a [...]
UK manufacturers facing ‘steel quota cliff edge’ June 16, 2026 Manufacturers are facing a cliff-edge from the government’s incoming steel tariffs that are likely to inflict “huge damage” on the UK economy, Britain’s largest industry body has warned. In a fresh statement, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sounded the alarm on the impact that that new duties on foreign-produced steel will have on importers, [...]
EU rejected UK push for single market on goods May 23, 2026 The EU rejected a UK proposal to set up a single market for the trade of goods because the UK refused to allow freedom of movement. Michael Ellam, Britain’s chief negotiator, proposed that the UK align with UK regulations to allow free trade with the bloc, but the idea was rebuffed by Brussels. The rebuttal [...]
Innocent smoothie boss bananas for EU red tape reset May 18, 2026 The boss of smoothie giant Innocent has backed closer ties between the government and the European Union, in the same week Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting threw his weight behind a return to the bloc. Nick Canney, chief executive of Coca-Cola-owned Innocent Drinks, told City AM that closer ties with the EU would be “helpful” [...]
Realignment with the EU is a £15bn betrayal May 13, 2026 Dynamic alignment is an extreme anomaly in global trade and will inflict a net opportunity cost on the UK of £15bn, equivalent to a 0.5 per cent loss of GDP, says Shanker Singham Under the guise of reducing border friction, the government is quietly steering the United Kingdom towards a profound constitutional and economic blunder: [...]
The UK has earned Japan’s respect – let’s use it to build our economy April 20, 2026 Japan holds a deep respect for the UK and is eager to strengthen our relationship further, writes Chris Hayward fresh back from Osaka.