Seminar: Brexit: Implications for the UK, the EU, Regional Trade Agreements, and Singapore

About the Seminar

On June 23, the United Kingdom held a referendum for its people to decide whether the country would leave or remain within the European Union (EU). A slight majority voted to leave, prompting a leadership change in the UK and discussions on when to begin withdrawal from the EU. The result has also prompted a wider discussion on the future of the European ‘project’ of closer economic and political integration.

This seminar focuses on the geopolitical and economic implications of Brexit. With regards to geopolitical issues, it will explore the political repercussions of Brexit from a British perspective, including: underlying reasons for the ‘Leave’ Campaign’s success; key objectives the UK government has in negotiations with the EU; and how its relations with other parts of the world may change in a post-EU context. From there, it will analyze the implications of Brexit from a continental European perspective, including what it means for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union.

The seminar will also set out the key economic ramifications of Brexit. Key issues include the impact on the architecture of the European trading system as well as the options the United Kingdom has with regards to developing a new trading arrangement with the EU. The seminar will also assess the direct implications of Brexit for the Singaporean economy, as well as the potential for a generalized economic downturn.

About the Speakers

Topic: Brexit – A UK Perspective

Alexandra McKenzie arrived at the British High Commission, Singapore in August 2015 as Deputy High Commissioner and Political Counsellor. Prior to that, she was Deputy Head of the ASEAN Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Ms McKenzie has been posted to the British High Commissions in Berlin, Paris, and Beijing, and has also worked on European Union enlargement issues at the FCO. She has a degree in Philosophy and German from the University of Bristol.

Topic: Brexit – A Continental Perspective

Joergen Oerstroem Moeller is Cand. Polit. (Master of Science, Economics), University of Copenhagen. He joined the Danish diplomatic service in 1968 and worked on European integration issues for 26 years. From 1989 to 1997, he was State-Secretary. From 1997 to 2005, Mr Moeller was Ambassador to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam and from 2002 also to Australia and New Zealand, residing in Singapore.

In 2005, Mr Moeller joined the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore as Visiting Senior Fellow and the MFA Diplomatic Academy as Senior Fellow. He is an Adjunct Professor, Copenhagen Business School and Singapore Management University (SMU).

Topic: Regional Trade Architecture and Options for the UK vis-à-vis Trading Arrangements with the EU

Jack Coleman is a Research Fellow at the Asian Trade Centre — a Singapore-based company that provides trade policy advice and training to governments and businesses in the region. His expertise is in trade policy and international political economy, and he has authored reports on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Before joining the Trade Centre, Jack worked for several years in industrial relations and as a political advisor in Australia. Born in England, Jack studied at Ustinov College, Durham, and then at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore.

Topic: Implications for Singapore

Alvin Liew is a senior economist with the United Overseas Bank’s Global Economics & Markets Research team. Based in Singapore, he is responsible for providing research and analysis coverage of developed economies, specifically US and Japan.

Alvin has worked in the banking industry since 2000 in both public and private sectors. He is also quoted in both local and international financial media, including Channel News Asia, Straits Times, Business Times, CNBC, Reuters and Bloomberg. He graduated from the National University of Singapore, with an Honours Bachelor of Social Science degree (majoring in Economics).