Britain should open up to world trade deals

Sir, - Would you like us to have the freedom to trade with whoever we want, whenever we want and at a price that’s mutually agreeable?

That’s what free trade is. As a buyer you’re free to buy what you want; a seller is free to sell what they want.

If both parties are free to choose and can reach an agreement, we discover the price of something.

It is the price that is beneficial to both sides.

If either buyer or seller is not happy, they are free to walk away and no trade would happen

The EU is not a free trade organisation.

We are only free to trade with the other 27 nations inside it.

We are not free to trade with the rest of the world. We can’t easily choose to trade with nations outside that bloc.

That’s a form of coercion. We are not freely making that choice; it’s being imposed on us.

This puts Britain in an interesting position when negotiations begin. What are our core principles? Are we willing to take a position with economic liberty at its core?

As negotiations begin, expect to hear talk of things like allowances, deals, tariffs and so on.

The big, bold thing to do would be for Britain to open up for business on a free trade basis with every nation on the planet, EU or not.

Tell the other 27 countries in the EU they can sell what they want, when they want and at a price they want to Britain, without fear of tariffs or duties.

It is just that they’ll be competing freely with every other country in the world.

In other words, take a stand for freedom and attach no strings to the deal. Do not coerce or threaten. Then see what the EU offers. We at least would be negotiating from a position of principle. John Dorward. 89 Brechin Road, Arbroath.

Picture: PA. Theresa May answers questions during a press briefing in Brussels in October.