The United Kingdom has taken its own seat at the World Trade Organisation for the very first time. Some are citing this as the first visible sign of Britain becoming an independent nation. Britain joined the WTO as an independent member on Tuesday. Britain only previously attended a part of its EU membership. At the first meeting yesterday the UK representative Julian Braithwaite sat next to his US counterparts. The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has prohibited British diplomats from sitting with their EU counterparts, some called this an overly symbolic post-Brexit move.
Mr Braithwaite stated “The United Kingdom has long been a strong believer in the role of the multilateral trading system to unlock growth, reduce poverty and open markets for least-developed, developed and developing countries alike. The stability and predictability of this system remains vital to all of us, and the United Kingdom is committed to supporting the international institution that underpins it. There are big challenges facing the WTO today. It is important that these are addressed, and the United Kingdom will play its part in doing so.”
However, the WTO is far from perfect. The “Doha round” of global trade talks which began in 2001 has still not reached a conclusion, meaning there has been no significant change to the rules which govern world trade for nearly two decades. Most large countries and economic blocs have instead concentrated on reaching bilateral deals with significant trading partners. The International Trade Secretary Liz Truss vowed to “modernise the institution for trade in the 21st century” and to prioritise sectors which are most important to the UK, such as “digital and services”.
Yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson quoted anti-Corn Law politician and economist Richard Cobden when he said that “free trade is God’s diplomacy”. He also claimed free trade was being “choked” by “politicians failing to lead”. Free trade appears to be the new buzzword surrounding Brexit. This will likely please many Brexiteers, who saw this as part of their vision for the UK outside of the EU.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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