Brexit Secretary mocked for trade comments

Britain’s Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, has been ridiculed for admitting that he did not previously realize how important a major trade route is to the UK economy.

Speaking at a technology industry event in central London on Wednesday night, Raab denied that failing to reach a deal with the European Union would lead to major shortages of food and medicine due to disruption between the English port of Dover and Calais in France.

However, he admitted the choice of products in shops could be restricted if frictionless trade between the two cities is not maintained.

The Dover-Calais shipping route is important for UK trade.

The southern English town of Dover acts as a gateway to Europe and is linked to Calais by a ferry crossing, as well as by the Channel Tunnel rail link under the English Channel.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 17: (R) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker shakes hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May as she arrives for a bilateral meeting during Euro Summit on October 17, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. During the October EU Council Meeting British Prime Minister, Theresa May, will address the assembled 27 EU Leaders on the progress of Brexit negotiations prior to an Article 50 working dinner. The 27 will also meet to discuss negotiations on the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union, Migration and Internal Security. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

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“I think probably the average consumer might not be aware of the full extent to which the choice of goods that we have in stores aredependent on one or two very specific trade routes,” Raab said.

“I hadn’t quite understood the full extent of this but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing,” he said.

Pro-EU demonstrators wave an mixed EU and Union flag as they protest against Brexit, outside of the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 11, 2018. - After a rollercoaster week of Brexit rows within her government and with Brussels, British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Tuesday seek to avoid another setback in a long-awaited showdown with parliament. MPs in the House of Commons will vote on a string of amendments to a key piece of Brexit legislation that could force the government's hand in the negotiations with the European Union. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

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As the UK’s chief negotiator for Brexit, Raab’s comments caused some surprise and criticism on social media.

“How could it possibly come as a surprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market?” wrote physicist and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox in a tweet.

During his speech, Raab claimed that Britain is a “peculiar geographic economic entity” as a result of its position close to the coast of the European continent.

“And that is one of the reasons why we have wanted to make sure we have a specific and very proximate relationship with the EU, to ensure frictionless trade at the border,” he said.

Twitter user David Vella posted a video of Raab making his speech, while Alastair Campbell, a former adviser to ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the situation was a “s***show” in another tweet.

Business figures have previously claimed that Britain could face shortages if a future Brexit deal does not ensure frictionless trade.