On 30/06/16 16:50, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Interesting hypothesis. You think there wouldn't have been a vast number
of regulations covering that free trade? You can only have a free trade
area if all follow common rules. Otherwise each country would try to gain
an advantage over the others.
For example. The UK brings in tighter controls over vehicle emissions
because of severe problems in London, etc. So any imported vehicle must
meet them too. Those living in a country where pollution wasn't such a
problem would call foul. And so on.

It's an interesting problem.

But surely, it would be perfectly reasonable for a vehicle manufacturer
to decide which part sof the market he wishes to target?

eg - if 60% of sales on a smaller town car go to France and Britain, and
they announce they are tightening emissions, the manufacturer can decide
to improve his small car engine(s).

However, if only 10% of his SUV class car exports to the same areas, he
might not bother with that and just not make it available.

Not much point in being in a free trade area if you don't want to export.

You've made a flexible statement into a very binary one.

Why would you not want to pick and choose - and direct your best exports
to the EU, whilst not being burdened with regulations concerning exports
that are a minority.


So we'll get along just fine outside the EU.