IN view of all the considerable concerns of so many national and international businesses I agree 100% with the view of Dr Cato, Green Party MEP for Southwest (Echo letter 11th July), the cost of Brexit is going to be far too high. Promises of 2016 have simply vaporised.

As a matter of fact the UK exports 2017 to EU were £274 billion, UK imports from EU £341 billion. So yes we have a trade balance that favours EU countries. They export to us some £70 billion more than we export to them. That then would suggest it is in the interests of the EU to agree a deal with the UK.

But. And it's a huge but. If EU leaders take the view that they will "pay the price of letting the UK go", just as UK Brexiteers take the view we need hard Brexit full break whatever the cost, then we are going to end up with the collapse of UK/EU trading with full-on custom duties. And who know what huge problems in Ireland.

As far then as a second referendum (as called for by Dr Cato and millions of others most recently former minister Justine Greening), I believe there is a better solution. EU leaders need as the highest priority to look at the EU's founding four freedoms; freedom of goods, service, capital, and people, with a view to radically reforming free movement of people.

That is what horrifies millions throughout Europe and the largest reason why millions in UK voted for Brexit, to stem unregulated immigration. Put an end to freedom of movement, row back to a trading community and we can surely avoid what is looking like catastrophic Brexit.

As it is the US have already racked on 25% tariffs on EU produced steel and US sanctions have now come into force penalising any EU country including the UK trading with Iran. It could not be clearer post-Brexit we will have enormous problems trying to set up new trade deals. My view, stop this right-wing Tory /UKIP-led high risk gamble with UK trade before it's too late.

JEFF WILLIAMS

Jubilee Road, Parkstone, Poole