b'Switzerland exported over $24.5 billion toEuropean Centre for International Political China.Economy, Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, rightly suggested (in a Financial Times) article thatCompare that with the EU, which almostthe geopolitical relationship with China is started a trade war with China. The thentoo important to be entrusted to the EU EU Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht,Commission. See Appendix 13 for the full proposed off his own bat penal tariffstext of that article. on Chinese solar panels. One thousand European companies signed an open letterThis is one example of the advantages the pleading with the Commission not to embarkUK regains as an independent trading nation on this course of action. The two sides finallyable to negotiate its own trade agreements reached an agreement on a minimum pricethanks to Brexit. It was folly for the UK for Chinese solar panels in July 2013. Theto have given away its right to negotiate trade reason is that whilst Iceland and Switzerlandagreements to EU institutions, whose signed trade agreements with China, the EUinstincts are protectionistand inward looking; was burning bridges before it had even builtthey do not embrace free trade. On this basis them.alone, the UK is better off when fully out of the EU, and able to negotiate FTAs for itself.It is noteworthy that this proposal was an own-initiative rather an own goalbyEFTA has had its accounts approved and the EU Trade Commissioner against thesigned off every year throughout its history. stated wishes of 17 of 28 Member States.The EU cannot say the same.31The author described it at the time as a frolic.It could have triggered a trade war.EFTA countries consistently run a trade The affair demonstrates, yet again, the powersurplus in goods with the EU; 9.6 billion in wielded by unelected and unaccountable2017.32 Compare that with the UKs trade EU Commissioners. The Director of thedeficit with the EU; 95 billion in 2017.33Table 39 EFTAs trade surplus with the EU: the UKs tradedeficit with the EUYearEFTAs trade surplus with the EUUKs tradedeficit with the EU2009 22.1 billion-36.9 billion2010 27.6 billion-42.8 billion2011 32.1 billion-43.3 billion2012 22.3 billion-56.9 billion2013 34.9 billion-66.7 billion2014 43.9 billion-71.7 billionSources:ONS, European Commission, HMRC and Eurostat76'