Editor

I would like to make a comment in respect of correspondence from a Cambrian News reader regarding an extension to the EU transition period (Letters, 16 April).

There is no doubt there is a campaign to extend this period, but I believe that there is a bigger campaign supporting World Trade Organisation terms. If no trade agreement is reached then we deal on WTO terms. We already do this with many countries.

During the transition period the UK is paying many billions into the EU, and to extend this transition we would have to pay many billions more, for no benefit. The UK is no longer a member state of the EU institution.

The UK is already in talks with several other countries regarding free-trade deals. After 31 December, assuming the UK leaves the transition period on WTO terms, I suspect it will not be long before the EU will want a trade deal. While we are in a transition period, the EU has no intention of agreeing to a deal. The big question now is, not if the EU collapses but, when. The EU has lost its second largest contributor. It has five recognised candidate member states, not one will be a net contributor. “Annual income 20/-, annual expenditure 19/6, happiness. Annual income 20/-, annual expenditure 20/6, misery”.

Chris Samuel, William Street, Aberystwyth

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