In today’s newsletter:
and more…. US Vice President JD Vance’s recent comments on the possibilities of a UK-US trade deal illustrate, again, just how hopelessly muddled and confused the current US administration’s thinking on trade is. At this stage, this is not news anymore. No economist who has looked at Trump’s mad tariff-setting formula could possibly think that that man can be reasoned with, or at least not when it comes to matters of trade. Vance says that there is a good chance of a trade deal, because “[t]he president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King.” He talks about a “real cultural affinity” between the two countries. That is a terrible way to think about trade relations. The whole point about trade is that it is in itself mutually enriching: if it were not, it would not take place. You do not need to feel any kind of affinity with the people you are trading with. Even people who actively loathe each other can engage in mutually beneficial exchange. For example, I am a big craft beer enthusiast, and a lot of the people in the craft beer brewing scene are Corbynista hipsters, who would hate me if they knew who I was. But they want my money, and I want their beer. That is good enough. Forget “cultural affinity”. Vance also says that “[w]ith the United Kingdom, we have a much more reciprocal relationship than we have with […] Germany. […] [T]he Germans […] are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany.” No, they are not. They could not be even if they wanted to. The UK left the EU Customs Union in 2021, but Germany is still very much part of it, and therefore does not have an independent trade policy. Germany is also the world’s seventh-largest importer of American goods and services, about of a par with the UK. It is just that they also export a lot to the US, because lots of Americans want to buy their stuff. And so what? So if this UK-US trade deal happens, it will happen for all the wrong reasons. But I would support it anyway. It would not be an absolute guarantee for anything: there are no absolute guarantees with Donald Trump. NAFTA has not stopped him from lashing out at Canada and Mexico, quite the opposite. But a deal would provide a baseline of freer trade, which could be built upon under a less mercantilist future administration. The possibility of concluding free trade deals around the world is one of the unambiguous potential Brexit benefits. We should make the most of it. Kristian Niemietz Editorial Director P.S. The best way to never miss out on IEA work, get access to exclusive content, and support our research and educational programmes is to become a paid IEA Insider. For a limited time only, new paid subscribers will receive a copy of Dr Steve Davies’ book Apocalypse Next: The Economics of Global Catastrophic Risks for free. Offer ends at the end of May! IEA Podcast: Director of Communications Callum Price, Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz, and Senior Education Fellow Stephen Davies discuss the realignment on the right as it plays out in US politics, IEA YouTube Better news on UK inflation paves the way for a rate cut in MayResponding to the latest inflation news, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
News and ViewsInvisible Hands, The History Podcast, BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 have created a podcast series detailing the history of an idea – free market capitalism – in the UK. Episode 4, the Big Bang, was released this week. Episode 1 - The Chicken Farmer Episode 2 - The Mad Monk Episode 3 - Selling the Silver Episode 4 - The Big Bang The calm before the storm, Len Shackleton commented on March’s labour market statistics in the Daily Express American EDI, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim quoted in the Daily Mail.
Who will pay more tax? Tax experts debate as Tom Clougherty of the IEA interviews Paul Johnson of the IFS, IEA YouTube Our energy bills are not taxes – progressive pricing will only backfire, Andy Mayer in CapX Disposable Vapes Ban, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim appeared on TalkTV. Britain's Economic Collapse? From Global Leader to 27th Place, Tom Clougherty interviews Lord Moynihan, IEA YouTube Businesses should put profit before purpose, Callum Price argued in CityAM:
Prices could fall for UK consumers if we don’t impose tariffs, Julian Jessop suggested in the i
Steel nationalisation is not likely to end well for taxpayers, Public Policy Fellow Matthew Lesh said on TalkTV International Programmes Manager Harrison Griffiths wrote about Trump’s trade approach for CityAM The Carbon Market Time Bomb | Free the Power, Energy Analyst Andy Mayer interviews Nicholas Leighton-Hall, IEA YouTube You’re currently a free subscriber to Insider. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. Paid subscribers support the IEA's charitable mission and receive special invites to exclusive events, including the thought-provoking IEA Book Club. We are offering all new subscribers a special offer. For a limited time only, you will receive 15% off and a complimentary copy of Dr Stephen Davies’ latest book, Apocalypse Next: The Economics of Global Catastrophic Risks. |