EU Brexit 2016: Advocates of a free-trading Britain outside the EU face long odds

The CER studied the legal and economic intricacies of a Brexit and concluded otherwise. In a recent report, the centre pointed out the bulk of the British trade deficit is with two countries, Germany and the Netherlands, which may very well have an interest in clinching a deal quickly. But most countries that trade with the UK do not.

"Any agreement would require the assent of the remaining 27 members, some of whom buy more from Britain than they sell to it," wrote the authors, John Springford and Simon Tilford.