North Africa apart, the map above may seem familiar, showing the equivalent of the EU almost 2000 years ago.
A clay tablet sent back to Rome at the time mentioned that 40% of goods still needed to be imported from mainland Europe. They were however catching up, the value of exports from the UK to the rest of the empire not far behind.
A position we would recognise, tin, copper and curative plants are no longer on the export list but other technological and medical items are. In the alternative direction, Europe continues to supply much of our olive oil, wine and various foods.
There are naturally differences but the symmetry between life now and in AD 200 is remarkable, as is the case with the reasons for this.
Geography & Culture
Not so long ago, Britain was physically attached to Europe and we are now just 20 miles away. Over millennia, our culture has been influenced by the Beaker People, Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and others in smaller numbers.
They almost always came from Europe, as did royalty, nobility and a conqueror or two. Our language owes much to those brought to our shores, the structure of our society at different times, even the clothes we wore.
The Romans brought us the mile, the Anglo-Saxons the foot, cubit, rod and acre. They also used the pound, a unit of weight, although this was subdivided into 240 silver pennies, or twenty shillings. Our currency before European led decimalisation.
Far more recent times have seen other traditions revived, since we decided to separate from the mainland to an extent.
New Types Of Barriers
Wars across Europe, or between Britain and parts of Europe were normality for many centuries. Their cause, or outcome could include trade issues, or the imposition of regulations and inspections.
A recent gathering hosted by The Department of Business and Trade saw much discussion on their return, particularly for food. Representatives from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands warned of a need to be prepared.
UK providers wanting to sell food products in Europe should be organised ahead of exportation. Their goods will be checked upon arrival and the right documentation must be in place to avoid delays, or fines.
In fairness, there was no real commodity price convergence long in the past, or a need to protect markets in quite the same way. Friction in trade often had as much of a political origin as a wish to support individual sectors.
The Intrinsic Difference
Some would say that politics played as much of a part as trade in our recent parting. We did not however go to war, the attitude of a few negotiators, or confiscating truck drivers sandwiches not amounting to loss of life.
Neither have wartime feelings been in evidence on either side. More a search for solutions amongst people who in a way, do not feel the separation is real.
The ATA carnets for the EU we supply are an example, an item you didn’t need before but they are working well. Research and development ties are being rebuilt, joint ventures and partnerships growing in numbers.
We may have left the EU but have been European for a very long time and remain so. The ambivalence of many Europeans to Brexit could be seen as a surprise but isn’t so surprising, breaking mutual respect takes more than a political act.
The new barriers are not insurmountable and we are still welcomed by most people in Europe. Opportunities to trade with the EU have not gone away.