“UKIP seems to believe that we can leave the EU and they won't tax our goods !!”
And they do so with very good reason, brionon. That is because the World Trade Organisation (of which all EU nations are members) prohibits discriminatory tariffs being imposed by its members. In brief, if you provide a certain set of trading conditions to one member nation you must provide the same conditions to all of them. The idea that the EU will suddenly impose punitive tariffs on UK exports is fallacious and one of the many things people who repel the idea of the UK leaving the EU often put about (and unfortunately one of the many things that the gullible fall for). Also, I don’t know where your figures come from but since 2012 less than 50% of the UK’s exports have gone to other EU countries. Many companies (once again, despite the interference of politicians, not because of it) have focussed their efforts in developing markets in emerging economies rather than tying themselves to a moribund over regulated Union.
“We could find it possible to close down ALL farming and import all our food, as we have done with other industries, but would that be wise?”
Whether it would or it would not is academic, Khandro. At the moment the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) means that the UK contributes to all farm subsidies across the EU. The CAP was introduced at a time when the Continent had endured severe food shortages following WW2. Whilst it has evolved (but not before the ridiculous fiascos of the “wine lakes” and “butter mountains” of the 1980s saw farmers being paid to produce stuff that nobody wanted), it has now outlived its usefulness. But France (which receives more than 20% of the funds, which in total consume more than 40% of the entire EU budget) unsurprisingly, will not hear of any significant changes. If the UK wanted to subsidise its farmers that should properly be a matter for Westminster. But once again we have relinquished the privilege to decide for ourselves.