Is the looming prospect of Brexit dampening trade with other EU countries?

Is the looming prospect of Brexit dampening trade with other EU countries? Not if the latest trade statistics are anything to go on. Figures out today – the final set to be published before the referendum – show that imports to the UK from other EU countries are at a record high: rising by £1bn between March and April this year. Britain’s exports to other EU countries also rose in the same period – jumping by £0.9bn, with oil and chemicals making up a large chunk of this number (£0.5bn).

These figures can be interpreted in two ways and as with many things to do with the EU referendum, both ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ could argue these statistics make their case for their respective arguments. For those campaigning for Brexit, these numbers show just how important Britain is as a market place for EU countries selling their goods. It’s clear, they might say, that Brexit wouldn’t mean these places suddenly turned their backs on Britain – we’re worth too much for them to do that.