Tried to order something from Europe..

Given that Great Britain is derived from the larger of two island and from it's Latin name.

Only some weirdo fanatic with anyone they speak to called a mate would think great equates to arrogance.

There are two sides to that!

If leavers were right, things will settle down in time and the country will do fine.

If remainers were right it'll get worse.

In either case, it's too early to tell.

Correct. Trade with ex-empire, Commonwealth countries collapsed when we joined the Common Market/EEC/EC/EU and were stuck with protectionist tariffs and quotas.

Perfectly normal for developed nations of the time. Judging historical actions against modern morals makes no sense. The people taking those actions were living in a totally different moral environment and acted according to it.

France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Greece, etc. all had there own empires. As did middle Eastern nations. African "nations" conquered, killed and enslaved others, but did not have the advantage of the industrial revolution.

Simply, that was the way it was.

Perhaps you'd give us the benefit of your thoughts on a scenario where that could happen? A HofC jolly to foreign parts filling a 747 which crashed with everyone killed? Or even something more ridiculous?

Let me quote one of your supporters, pet.

From: Richard snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com.invalid>

Subject: Re: Tried to order something from Europe.. Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:35 Newsgroups: uk.d-i-y

It is not 4 years since the beginning of this year yet, pet.

Yep, just like the impending Armageddon and economic meltdown your mates prophesied.

So out of fear. That's not usually a route to a making a good choice.

I recall a New Zealand article how we single handedly decimated their exports. I hope there has been sufficient passage of time for forgiveness on what we did to their economy.

We were promised that immediately after the vote, not when we actiually left.

I would like to congratulate Tim too, and voting despite all the fear-mongering many succumbed to.

Of course, the worst remainers are those who couldn't be arsed to vote and still whinge.

I doubt it ever will, given he's now been replaced.

The issue is why you would think "BoJo and pals are perfectly capable of bringing this country to its knees without help from the EU", not that it's very likely, vs why you believe that Corbyn wouldn't make a greater mess assuming there is one?

And he appears to be talking about trade between commonwealth countries too. That didn?t collapse with the end of empire either.

A renationalisation of almost everything.

They had a few footholds in Africa, though

well yes

but that's teething problem that should go away as:

a) people understand that they have to b) HMG make it easier because the realise that they have made it too damn hard

but the point is that this HK company should also have registered with UK HMRC

but have they?

Or are they just relying on the fact that they have "got away with it in the past" because when sitting in a amongst a pile of other foreign mail, this HK parcel will go unchecked

But that won't happen anymore because now, all of the foreign mail has to be checked as well

there is the option of using one of the "marketplaces" (there a legal term for this which I forget.) and then you don't need to individually register.

as the legislation requires then to do

yup

so these smaller companies have a choice of selling via a market place

this will see a small margin taken from them (presumably market forces will see competition drive down margins here)

but it's bound to be better than no sales at all

and IMHO it's likely to be better for consumers as well, because they will be better protected from Chinese knock-offs

At the expense of slightly higher prices.

tim

surely the term Great(er) Britain

refers to the Island of Britain plus its associated near shore islands

and I'm surprised that they are stopping their companies from buying our stuff with petty-fogging complains about full stops not being in the right place

It may be true that XYZ GMBH can buy their widgets from elsewhere, but they can't turn that supply on in zero time to replace the order that UK PLC tried to deliver today but is currently sitting in a customs office whilst officials ague over form filling.

and the reality is that very many widgets can already be supplied by ROW at much cheaper prices than the UK can supply, but companies don't buy from these sources because quality can be iffy.

So the argument that the paperwork puts up the UK costs doesn't wash.

were it not for reduced demand because of Covid, EU companies would be hurting because of this supply issue

No. The term you're thinking of is the "British Isles" which is a geographical term covering Britain and Ireland and islands. It is not a political term (bit like Scandinavia, I suppose).

Britain = England + Wales + Scotland. UK = Britain + NI.

"Great Britain" is Wales England and Scotland, which is why the UK is actually the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland

There is no geographical or political entity of 'Britain' It is just a short form of 'Great Britain'