Brexit, France and the EU
The UK government has invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting the process through which the UK will exit the European Union.
It has also published its negotiating priorities, and called a snap general election to bolster its mandate. Across the Channel, the forthcoming presidential elections in France are now also raising the question of France’s future relationship with the EU, with one leading candidate promising a referendum on whether the country should leave the club, and another raising the possibility of leaving if negotiations fail secure radical reforms. This bulletin explores the potential impact of various Brexit and French exit (“Frexit”) scenarios on France’s trade.