There is not much time left for Britain's exit from the European Union in March. The British administration of Prime Minister Theresa May must end the turmoil within her ruling party and hasten to reach an agreement with other EU members.
The British government has formed a policy toward Brexit negotiations. Britain has reversed its hard-line Brexit approach, which attaches importance to restoring British sovereignty, and come out with a moderate line that emphasizes maintaining trade with the EU.
Two years have passed since a majority of British voters opted for Brexit in a national referendum in June 2016, and during that period, the government has remained undecided about its policy. Although the most recent policy comes too late, its substance can be described as reasonable.
The main pillar of the policy is to establish a free trade zone for Britain's commerce in goods with the EU. Despite its departure from the EU single market, the country will adopt common rules for such matters as standards on industrial and agricultural products. Britain will cooperate with the EU in creating a mechanism for omitting customs clearance procedures at national borders.
Britain is also said to seek progress in talks with non-EU nations over free trade agreements and is considering joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact in the future.
The British government probably had no choice but to opt for a moderate exit, considering the need to maintain a free exchange of people and goods between Northern Ireland, part of Britain, and Ireland, an EU member nation.
Make concessions if needed
The problem is that hard-liners within the ruling Conservative Party have opposed the government's policy, making such assertions as that their country could be reduced to an EU "colony." Both Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have stepped down from the Cabinet.
If internal discord continues within the administration, smooth negotiations with the EU cannot be expected. May needs to exercise leadership in compiling broad-based support for her government's policy.
Britain and the EU are seeking to reach an agreement about conditions for Brexit and future relations between the two sides by the end of October. This is because it will take several months for the accord to be approved by both the British and EU parliaments.
If Britain is unable to reach such an agreement and quits the EU without any orderly arrangement, it will send not only the British economy but the entire European region into turmoil. There is no doubt that the world economy will be adversely affected.
The EU champions the free movement of people, goods, capital and services as one bloc. If the EU strictly applies this principle and rejects the British policy -- which includes restrictions on immigrants -- as an attempt to pick the best of the single market, Brexit negotiations will be deadlocked.
The EU should be prepared to make concessions on its part, and seek a point of compromise.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing forward protectionist policies and threatening the EU through such measures as imposing additional tariffs on car imports. It is important for Britain and the EU to achieve an agreement in line with the principle of free trade, a task necessary for restraining Trump's reckless conduct.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2018)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
