ABSTRACT
As the heat cools and the dust settles following the decision of the UK to vote for 'Brexit' the role of the Commonwealth is attracting new interest-both from the British perspective and from that of the Commonwealth network of member states themselves. In some senses even to pose the first question—comparing the modern Commonwealth network with the European market—is to confuse apples and oranges on a grand scale. The two bodies, Commonwealth and European Union, are of course totally different—in character, origin, structure and relevance to the UK economy. Whatever relationship the UK ends up agreeing with the EU single market the time for a sharply increased focus on both Commonwealth and adjacent markets is clearly now ripe, and crucial for the UK's continuing prosperity. For the UK a new model of two-way relationships has to be built. The UK's trading rivals have not been standing still in the competitive race into developing country markets.
