b' The proportion of imports by developedway they could claim jurisdiction (supported countries facing tariff rates of more thanby the inaptly named European Court of 15% is only 4%.Justice) over more and more elements ofIn 2017, the average trade-weighted EUeveryday national life. Consequently, the EUs tariff was 2.5%, with agricultural goodsregulatory authority has expanded to areas having a higher tariff of 7.8%.33 like hours worked by doctors and even how long-established institutions such as the What trade advantages did joining the EECPost Office are run; all were encompassed. (now the EU) actually give us? TradeIn consequence, in the 21st century, at least barriers, particularly in terms of tariffs, were75% of UK laws originate from the European still significant when the UK joined the EECCommission.in 1973. The EEC (later the EC and now the EU) was a free trade area with zeroHence the cost to the UK of belonging to tariffs between members. Since then, in thethe EU far outweighs the advantages of world outside the EEC/EC/EU, world trademembership. As per my introduction, it is negotiations have lowered tariffs and otherestimated that the cost of EU regulationbarriers to trade significantly, so that thewith its concomitantcorruption, waste and former free trade advantages of the EU arefraudis roughly 11% of UK output. The now hardly relevant.advantages of EEC free trade are merely historic. In many spheres elsewhere, the EU As the so-called Single Market developed, from the viewpoint of trade and commerce zealots for the European Union effectively has had its time. It is therefore entirely valid expanded the definition of trade to includeto regard the EU as an outdated institution, ALL elements of the goods traded i.e. labouran anachronism.and capital as well as raw materials. In that 10. The EU is a barrier to peaceThe EU claims peace in Europe since 1945the peace of Europe even after the as its own achievement.disintegration of the Warsaw Pact. Meanwhile, Germany has transformed In reality, the current achievement belongsitself from a warmongering state into a entirely to NATO. Professor David Abulafiamodel democracy determined to atone and colleagues have made this point withfor the horrors of the Third Reich. These clarity (in a letter published in the Sundayare welcome developments, but only Telegraph 17 January 2016):myth-makers can claim that they were generated by the EU. Sir, the claim that the EU is the source of peace within Europe, repeated yet againIn the same way, it was the GATT and its on last Thursdays Question Time, cannotsuccessor, the WTO, which truly progressed go unchallenged.Europe towards open trade (and its consequential benefits). Open Trade is NATO includes non-EU states, suchespecially important to the UK. Our exports as the United States and Turkey. It wasto the EU are less than 50% of our total founded in 1949, well before the Treatyexports and declining. UK exports to the of Rome, and continues to guaranteerest of the world are increasing.176'