No-deal Brexit would be very difficult, says Ardern
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday she was concerned about the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union without a withdrawal deal."It would impact on just about everybody, business ... particularly the smaller businesses," Ardern, who is in London to meet Theresa May, told BBC TV. "I will be very open that a no-deal scenario would be very, very difficult but I sense everybody is of that view."
Britain is one of New Zealand's biggest bilateral trading partners, and New Zealand imported goods and services worth 1.1 billion pounds (US$1.34 billion) from Britain in 2015. She said the Brexit situation is out of New Zealand's hands but she'll, "be using this opportunity to highlight the interests of New Zealand businesses and New Zealand exporters". Ardern will be meeting with Theresa May today.
If Britain fails to get an agreement with the European Union before its scheduled leaving date on March 29, then its trade deals around the world will end at that point. The UK would then be subject to World Trade Organization rules, causing uncertainty for all its trading partners, including New Zealand. Ardern said she doesn't think Brexit will be a distraction to the meeting with May as she says they have a "very special" relationship. After her meeting with May the Prime Minister will be heading to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum.
