UK’s Brexit – what does it mean for Belize trade?

Claire Evans

The U.K.’s exit from the European Union is nearing – and with recent elections in the country, the result has empowered Conservative Party Leader Boris Johnson to effect the “Brexit” deal. The U.K. media cites Prime Minister Johnson’s call for the elections as a means to increase his parliamentary majority and end months of deadlock over the U.K.’s exit from the European Union. The election is hailed as one of the most unpredictable elections in decades. It’s the U.K.’s third general election since 2015. Today, U.K. High Commissioner to Belize Clair Evans commented on the recent elections and the Brexit:

Claire Evans, UK High Commissioner to Belize

“What I can really say is that there was a mandate for the Conservative Government that no one expected including them. But it is great for any country to have a mandate to allow a government to get on and deliver what it wants to do. We will wait and see what comes out of the next few days. You know that we will exit the EU by the end of January and then we will start on the next work that comes and that will include some trade work.”

Reporter

“The UK is one of Belize’s leading trade partners; will there be any variance in this trade relationship particularly as it relates to the bananas and sugar that Belize sells to the UK?”

Claire Evans

“So at the moment you are covered under a CARICOM agreement. It means that everything continues to go forward as we go through our transitionary period but clearly as we go through a transitionary period we need to get those all important trade agreements in place when we are global Britain and doing things slightly differently and that’s gonna come in the next year.”