No agreement with a country thousands of miles away can replace the benefits of being part of the world’s largest single market on our doorstep.
The UK pursued a trade deal with the US alone because we are no longer a member of the EU, but that doesn’t mean it was worth it.
Geography matters in trade. The EU, by a considerable margin, remains our largest and most important trading partner.
Quality also matters. A lot of American meat cannot be sold in Europe because it is not safe or healthy enough to meet European standards.
The EU provided frictionless, tariff-free trade with 27 neighbouring countries, supporting supply chains, reducing costs, and giving UK businesses unmatched access. The new UK–US deal is welcome, but limited, with many tariffs still in place, and it comes nowhere close to offsetting the economic damage caused by leaving the EU.
Put simply: gaining the freedom to negotiate a weaker deal doesn’t make up for losing a much stronger one.
That’s why the UK–EU Summit on 19 May matters. It is a vital opportunity to reset the relationship, reduce friction, and begin building a more ambitious partnership that reflects our shared economic and strategic interests.