b'public diplomacy and the GREAT campaign,has seen near double-digitgrowth for much and Prosperity work (including the FCOsof the past decade. In contrast, the EU is relations with British Business). It seemsexpected to grow hardly at all. The total GDP that the current government does not giveof Commonwealth countries is expected to much priority to the Commonwealth. This issurpass that of the EUs in the near future.13a poor, indeed terrible, judgment. If nurtured,The charts below show the divergence in the Commonwealth could give the UK aeconomic performance of the EU and the significant competitive advantage.Commonwealth since the UK joined the EU in 1973. Those Commonwealth countries from which we were forced by the EEC to severIn the past five years even the United our preferential trade agreements haveStates, which is also perceived as a mature been projected to grow at 7.3% per annumeconomy, has experienced much better between 2016 and 2021. 12India, for example,growth than the European Union.Table 73 EU: growthof GDPEuropean Union (1973 definition)YEAR ON YEAR % CHANGE86420-2-4-6 199619982000200420062008201020122014 1972197419761978198019821984198619881990199219942002Source: Trading Economics, World Bank and IMF161'