Originally Posted by
triploss
judging by current politics and news, the UK is doing its best to shut itself off to and alienate itself from the rest of Europe. Insulting and misleading your negotiating partners is an easy way to make the process last at least twice as long as negotiating with Switzerland ever took.
It all arises from the EU's arrogance and bullying. Negotiating transitional trade terms need not be slow. I was involved in putting together the complex of agreements that covered the move of the UK, Denmark and the Irish Republic from membership of EFTA to membership of the European Communities in 1972, this also involved creating an agreement between the enlarged ECs and the remnants of EFTA. All was completed by the time we signed the treaty of accession - less than two years. If the EU really put their economic interests first they would be doing something similar now. Rather they are trying to punish the UK for not wanting to be part of their grand project.