BERLIN: Britain’s income will be boosted by £20bn through concluded and future international trade deals that have been brokered by the European Union, according to the business department.
In a written Parliamentary question, Labour MP Emma Reynolds asked what the benefit had been to the UK economy of preferential trade agreements the EU has negotiated with countries outside the bloc.
Business Minister Anna Soubry replied: “The cumulative impact of all concluded, ongoing and potential trade negotiations currently being undertaken by the EU could boost UK GDP by over £20bn in the long run.”
The figure is a fillip to the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, which is promoting an In vote to settle the UK’s future EU membership. With the referendum due by 2017, recent polls suggest the In and Out campaigns are running a statistical dead heat.
