IA's Sears calls for EU single market review whatever Brexit vote result

Free trade agreements incomplete

Daniel Flynn
clock • 2 min read

UK asset managers' access to the EU single market must be reviewed regardless of a potential Brexit, as free trade agreements among member states are "incomplete", according to Investment Association interim CEO Guy Sears.

Speaking at this year's Morningstar Investment Conference, Sears (pictured) said access is being limited by bureaucracy and varying local requirements across member states. "Local laws are currently preventing the easy distribution of products and services across the European Union," he said. "If the referendum means that the UK stays in the EU there is still a need to address passports, as the single market remains incomplete. "On the one hand, the loss of passports would be damaging. On the other hand, the persistence of passports in their current form would be a sad compromise comp...

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