The EU’s Black Hole: How The UK’s Tax Contributions Will Be Missed

 | Jul 14, 2016 04:40AM ET

Much of the focus so far, and nearly all of it gloomy, has been on the impact of the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union at some point in the future. Most are proceeding with caution because, as yet, no formal announcement of intent has been given and the exit process will take a minimum of two years, so once the dust has settled both sides will dig in for a prolonged period of trench warfare during which the real work will be done, negotiating the exit terms.

Although most (apart from a naive few who are still gazing at the sunlit uplands of total independence) concede Britain will be worse off, at least in the short- to medium-term, not so much has been said about the impact on Europe.

h2 Durable Trade in Durable Goods/h2

Apart from the fact that the U.K. runs a massive trade deficit with Europe, Germany alone exports close on $100 billion a year of goods and services to the U.K., mostly cars and high-end consumer goods. The UK is also a net contributor to the E.U. budget. Net is the key word here, as Brexiters made much of a spurious £350 million a week figure that supposedly Britain paid to the E.U.

In fact, when the payments the E.U. makes back to British farmers — such as aid to deprived areas, support for research, etc. — the net figure is probably half that, but the U.K. contribution remains a significant part of the E.U.’s €145 billion annual ($160 billion) budget.