IPP Policy Brief n°48
December 2019
Authors : Julien Martin, Alejandra Martinez, Isabelle Mejean
Contact : isabelle.mejean@polytechnique.edu
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The cost of Brexit uncertainty: missing partners for French exporters
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Summary:
More than three years after the unexpected Brexit vote of June 2016, there is still no exit agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Although the conditions of Brexit and the corresponding economic consequences are still unknown, the referendum has already had a real economic impact. The long discussion surrounding Brexit can be seen as a long-lasting uncertainty shock, whiach has affected firms’ investment decisions.
In this note we use highly detailed customs data before and after the vote to measure the impact of Brexit on French firms’ exports to the UK. We find that the referendum had no effect on average on the value of exports but depressed export growth in sectors such as transportation or chemical industries which are more upstream in value chains. The number of new trade relationships involving French exporters and British importers has significantly declined after the Brexit vote, in comparison with other destinations. This is consistent with the uncertainty shock reducing French firms’ investment in their customer base, which is likely to penalize French exporters in the future. These results are suggestive evidence that uncertainty has a real cost and that any decision of delaying the Brexit further should compare the benefit of reaching a better deal with the economic cost induced by uncertainty. It is also important that the next EU-UK trade agreement should guarantee the stability and predictability of the trade policy that European exporters will have to face.
Key points:
- The Brexit vote has generated a surge in uncertainty for the UK firms and the EU firms trading with them.
- The uncertainty has had a zero average effect on the value of French exports to the UK but a signi ficantly negative impact on some industries which are more upstream in value chains (with more production stages left before final consumption).
- The formation of new trade relationships between French exporters and British importers has declined in the average product market. This will penalize French exporters in the future.
- Negotiations should balance the benefit of delaying and obtaining a better deal with the economic cost of uncertainty.
- The new deal should guarantee stability in future trade relationships which is even more needed as production now takes place through Global Value Chains.
In the press
- Le Monde, 30/01/2020 – Brexit: les entreprises françaises prêtes à faire le deuil du Royaume-Uni
- AFP, 28/01/2020 – Le Brexit pourrait rebattre les cartes des chaînes de production en Europe – via L’Express – via Le Quotidien.lu
- Challenges, 12/12/2019 – L’incertitude du Brexit plombe déjà le commerce franco-britannique
- La Tribune, 11/12/2019 – Brexit : 40 mois d’incertitude
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