Like RobJP I take this good news at face value. I would refer anyone to the well researched article in the Telegraph of a couple of weeks ago regarding the motor manufacturing industry throughout Europe. Basically it concludes that the import/export of parts and completed cars virtually cancels itself out in terms of cost, even with currency fluctuations, so no fear there. Also hedging and future buying policies will cushion any financial blow for a rerasonable period, which should allow for withdrawal from the EU. It also conludes that the manufacturing and assembly plants in the UK are the most efficient in Europe and that transferring production to a French, Spanish or even German plant would increase vehicle costs by at least 5 to 6%, not very welcome for any international business. So Nissan have looked at the situation and decided, quite rightly to continue with their excellent facility near Sunderland. Good news all round I say.

Cheers Concrete

Don't get me wrong here, I'm no fan of the inefficient and interfering big government style of the EU but I'd rather be able to influence it from within than rely on it without any ability to from outside.

What influence? We've had precious little of that over the years.

Raising trade barriers isn't in the rest of the EU's interests when it comes to the UK - we are a HUGE net importer from the continent, so we would gain hugely if tarriffs were imposed. I don't want that to happen, and no doubt, nor do the German government, who nowadays are pulling the (purse) strings of the 'Project' given none of the others have much left in the kitty, if at all. The UK is Germany's second largest export market for their cars, don't forget (if I recall correctly).

I doubt that in the event of a full Brexit, Nissan has decided to swallow a 10% tariff or import tax on cars made in the UK and exported to the the EU and call it "good business sense".

Because the immediate consequence of the UK leaving the EU would be just that - they will be treated the same as Japan or the US - a 10 % tariff.

Who agreed 10% - that's simply the WTO tariff if NO agreement can be reached - since the UK is a net importer of goods from the EU, a high tariff will hit Europeans more than us so the prospect of a low agreed tariff is very good - I doubt it'll be 0% on principle but not far above.

I doubt that in the event of a full Brexit, Nissan has decided to swallow a 10% tariff or import tax on cars made in the UK and exported to the the EU and call it "good business sense".

Who agreed 10% - that's simply the WTO tariff if NO agreement can be reached - since the UK is a net importer of goods from the EU, a high tariff will hit Europeans more than us so the prospect of a low agreed tariff is very good - I doubt it'll be 0% on principle but not far above.

The EU import around double the amount of goods in value from China than they export yet still the Chinese must pay those tariffs. The UK won't get better terms here. Why would you think otherwise?

The EU puts the 10% tariff on Chinese goods and keeps that as taxation income - just as any agreed tariff on EU goods imported into the UK would be kept by us as taxation income - the fact that Chinese exports to the EU and EU exports to the UK are both higher than exports the other way, means that a high tariff is a bonus not a penalty.

The EU puts the 10% tariff on Chinese goods and keeps that as taxation income - just as any agreed tariff on EU goods imported into the UK would be kept by us as taxation income - the fact that Chinese exports to the EU and EU exports to the UK are both higher than exports the other way, means that a high tariff is a bonus not a penalty.

A bonus to government revenues maybe, in the short term but not a bonus to the actual private sector economy or the public who'll end up paying higher prices for goods that have these tariffs imposed. This will damage economic activity as tax rises always do and ultimately reduce tax revenues in the longterm.

If that reduces imports and increases home production, then it's a good thing