News / Creating freeports will be 'no magic wand' for a post-Brexit Britain

© Tomas1111 | Dreamstime.com - Big Ben and Houses of Parliament at evening, London, UK

Freeports (otherwise known as free-trade zones, or FTZs) are “not a magic wand for reviving struggling regions”, despite claims made by the UK’s international trade secretary Liz Truss.

Shortly following her appointment, Ms Truss claimed FTZs would transform towns and cities across the UK, but senior ports analyst at Drewry Maritime Neil Davidson said: “Most successful FTZs are those launched in already successful ports, ie the big busy gateways… critical mass matters.”

Mr Davidson told a parliamentary select committee on international trade this ...