b'The EU is not a champion of free trade.More than a decade on from the projects The EU position in the WTO is often heavily(Single Market) formal launch in 1993, the influenced by France. Determined to protectservices sector, which accounts for its small farmers, France has forced uparound 70 per cent of European GDP, is the price of food within the EU, driven an EUstill chock-fullof barriers to genuinely free Common Agricultural Policy which hastrade. Businesses complain that the rules penalised developing world farmers andand regulations required to establish the fishermen. The UK, as a net importer ofInternal Market have generated their own agricultural goods, has paid the price for thecosts and extra bureaucracy. EUs steep agricultural tariffs and regulation. IoD members singled out the inconsistent The economic and trading balance sheetapplication of EU directives across different does not support continued UK membershipmember states as a major obstacle to trade of the EU. However, some larger UKacross borders. The problem is particularly companies and UK subsidiaries of foreignacute for SMEs. companiesthe core of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)favour continuingHowever, in future rounds of trade EU membership.As a wide generalisation,negotiations, to establish an EU negotiating regulation is big business friendly andposition that reflects UK trade interests small business unfriendly. Perhaps manywould be almost impossible. The UK has CBI members believe they can lobbyonly 8.28% of the votes in the EU Council decision-makers in Brussels to slant theof Ministers. The agricultural and other myriad of regulations to favour themselves.protectionistinterests championed by France The Institute of Directors (IoD), which holdshave natural supporters amongst the former a broader and more representative UKSoviet Bloc members, and are likely to be in membership, has historically been morethe ascendant. circumspect.When the IoD organised a vote on the EU Constitution, 49% voted against,After Brexit, Britain can best promoteand 29% for, and 20% were dontknows. Theprotectthe interests of our exporters and same IoD report, published in February 2007,investors as a fully independent member stated:of the WTO, making (informal) alliances on particular topics with both new and historic allies.177'