Britain is set to become the world’s trade hub by linking together US, Europe and China, top economist predicts

BRITAIN is set to become a global trade powerhouse by striking deals with huge economies which will use the UK as a “hub”, economic experts predicted tonight.

One Oxford academic called on Britain to make the best of its historic links with Commonwealth countries such as Canada as we forge a future outside the EU.

Linda Yueh also pointed out that because the EU, USA and China don’t have trade deals with one another, Britain could become a centre of interchange for all three economic giants by striking separate agreements with all of them.

She said: “If you look at the world’s biggest economies, none of them have a trade agreement with each other.”

Dr Yueh, who teaches at Oxford University and the London Business School, compared Britain to Mexico, which currently links together the EU and the US, massively boosting its own economy.

Speaking in a fringe meeting at the Tory conference in Manchester, she added: “Where the United Kingdom has a strategic advantage is with Commonwealth countries.

“If Britain strikes free-trade agreements with those countries then it could become a global hub.”

And the top economist pointed out that the shift in global trade from manufactured goods to services - which Britain is particularly strong in - would be good for the UK.

Dr Yueh said: “The fastest-growing areas of trade are services and digital trade.

“If we can get global markets to be as open to services as the are for manufacturing trade, it would be very good for Britain.”

Ebru Pakcan, a trade expert from US bank Citi, agreed that Brexit would be an “opportunity” for the UK to boost its links with the rest of the world.

The experts’ bullish view will come as good news to Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is travelling the globe in a bid to forge deals with are currently banned because of our EU membership.