Is Imitation Really Flattery? The UK’s Trade Continuity Agreements: A Reply to Joris Larik

Abstract

Abstract The assessment of the United Kingdom’s (UK) trade continuity programme is open to debate. Joris Larik argues that this programme should be seen as a success both for the UK (although a ‘modest’ one) and for the European Union (EU). However, the significance of the UK’s trade continuity agreements should not be overstated, as the replication of the EU’s trade agreements seems to result above all from pragmatic considerations. It is submitted that this programme cannot be described as a success for the UK and only allows limited conclusions to be drawn about the external influence of the EU’s trade policy.