Press
Brexit trapdoor exposed: How rushed deal with EU could derail UK plans
10 June 2020
Express
Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform said: “I think the best possible outcome the British Government can hope for in negotiations with the EU is the sort of bare-bones free trade agreement by the end of the year. “Covering trade and goods, zero tariffs and zero quotas.”
Last minute Brexit trade deal likely - but fireworks will come first - experts tell MPs
10 June 2020
The Telegraph
Trade expert Sam Lowe told the Brexit Committee this decision would not be taken by Michel Barnier and David Frost, saying he expected Boris Johnson and the leaders of the EU27 to intervene. But while he said he thought the EU would shift on state aid, there were no signs of backing down on fisheries.
The Centre for European Reform estimated there was a 70 per cent chance of a deal, saying he was "on the optimistic side of things... although I expect there to be fireworks in the coming months".
The Centre for European Reform estimated there was a 70 per cent chance of a deal, saying he was "on the optimistic side of things... although I expect there to be fireworks in the coming months".
Brexit: UK borders still not ready for leaving single market at end of year, MPs told
10 June 2020
The Independent
Sam Lowe, a senior fellow and trade expert at the Centre for European Reform told the same hearing of the Commons EU future relationship committee that many things needed to be sorted irrespective of whether the government managed to get a deal with the EU or not. "From a preparedness point of view, due to the nature of the future relationship that is on the table, most of these questions apply whether there is a free trade agreement or not," he said.
Germany opens the spending tap
10 June 2020
The Economist
The pragmatism of the new generation earns them a hearing among policymakers, says Christian Odendahl, an economist at the Centre for European Reform.
A Japan-UK trade deal is more important than ever. Here are the key opportunities and tensions
09 June 2020
The Telegraph
Negotiations with the Japanese may be nowhere near as controversial as with the USA, but don't assume they'll be a walk in the park.
Onshoring is no panacea for EU medical supplies
08 June 2020
Encompass
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted weaknesses in Europe’s medical supply chains, particularly its reliance on imports from China and elsewhere.
Europe's big two kiss and make up for pandemic rescue deal
06 June 2020
The Guardian
Christian Odendahl, chief economist at London thinktank the Centre for European Reform, cited the temporary cut in VAT the UK government introduced in 2008, pointing out that only “75% of businesses passed [the cuts] on to consumers”.
How the coronavirus makes a no-deal Brexit more likely
05 June 2020
The New York Times
“It’s quite foolhardy to say that because the economic impact of coronavirus will be large that no one will notice the difference,” said Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform in London. “It’s a sophistic argument — that because we’ve been thrown to the floor, we won’t feel another kick.”
Boris Johnson facing backlash after scrapping pledge to keep chlorinated chicken out of British supermarkets
05 June 2020
The Independent
Sam Lowe, a senior fellow at the Centre of European Reform and an expert on international trade, suggested that it was inevitable that the UK would have to give ground on food standards if it wanted a deal with Donald Trump.“It has always been the case that if the UK is to secure a free trade agreement with the US, it will need to find a way of giving America what it wants when it comes to agriculture and food standards,” he told The Independent.
Parliament Live: The future UK-EU relationship on professional and business services
04 June 2020
Sam Lowe, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform along with Sally Jones, Partner, Trade Strategy, EY LLP and Shanker Singham, Chief Executive Officer, Competere gave evidence on the UK-EU negotiations and future trade agreements.
Der 130-Milliarden-Wumms
04 June 2020
Der Spiegel
Laut dem Ökonomen Christian Odendahl hat Großbritannien mit einer ähnlichen Maßnahme in der vergangenen Krise experimentiert und damit gute Erfahrungen gemacht.
Merkel stimulus seals German shift from frugality to largess
04 June 2020
Bloomberg Quint
Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, praised the measures unveiled on Thursday, saying that “very meaningful support” for families and municipalities “will all help a recovery.”“The VAT cut is the biggest surprise,” Odendahl told Bloomberg. “It’s a broad-basedstimulus” that allows “people to pull forward major purchases.”
CER podcast: Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is deepening the transatlantic rift
03 June 2020
Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is creating new friction in the transatlantic relationship and exacerbating existing differences on China, trade and defence spending. Tensions will get worse if Trump is re-elected in November.
Europe pieces together €750bn plan as Berlin ditches the frugal four
30 May 2020
The Telegraph
“The proposal is for the first time a European fiscal response to a severe shock and I think that is significant,” says Christian Odendahl, chief economist of the Centre for European Reform. “This will be temporary and those who are sceptical about fiscal integration will make sure it is temporary.”
Milliarden als Medizin (und ihre Nebenwirkungen)
30 May 2020
Der Spiegel
Eine "hohe Konsumneigung" nennt das Christian Odendahl, Chefökonom des Centre for European Reform. Heißt: Eltern konsumieren meistens schneller als andere, auch eine Einmalzahlung würden sie also eher nicht aufs Sparbuch legen. Aus diesem Grund hält Odendahl auch eine Verdoppelung des Kindergeldes für einen Ansatz, "bis die Krise vorbei ist".
Game-changing EU recovery fund must deliver cash fast to succeed
29 May 2020
Bloomberg Quint
“What is the immediate fiscal and macroeconomic boost, that we get from this? It may be more modest than many believe,” said Christian Odendahl, the Berlin-based chief economist at the Centre for European Reform. “It’s important that national governments complement this investment-led strategy with more down-to-earth, plain-vanilla demand spending of their own.”
Stilton, whisky and pork pies become the next Brexit battleground
29 May 2020
The Telegraph
“I’m slightly at a loss as to why the UK thinks it can reopen the discussion on GIs, having already conceded to the EU’s demands as part of the Withdrawal Agreement,” said Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
Judy Asks: Hong Kong calls. Can Europe respond?
28 May 2020
Carnegie Europe
What happens in Hong Kong with China’s new national security legislation will seriously test Europe’s commitment to democracy, international law, and human rights.
'Defining moment' as EU executive pushes for €500bn in grants
28 May 2020
The Guardian
“Member-states hate [EU taxes] because they basically lose power,” Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian Green MEP, told the Centre for European Reform think-tank on Wednesday. But he expressed hope EU finance ministers would change their attitudes. “I think that the pandemic and this recovery plan are gamechangers and if we agree to borrow together we will need to reimburse together … in a way the pandemic opened doors that many believed totally shut up until now.”
Deadlock looms at Brexit talks next week
28 May 2020
The Economist
Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group, a consultancy, says it is even possible that the June summit may decide to abandon the negotiations, though Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, suggests the crunch is more likely to be in the autumn.