Yeah, it just seems like its likely to be a long time before the UK sees any benefit in this. This reddit comment might be a bit overzealous but its painfully clear that the UK has just guaranteed Trillions in spending to renegotiate and secure trade deals that already existed. Even if they had problems with the EU, it seems like all the money spent would've been better used in changing the EU
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redditShort term damage?
It will take at least two years to negotiate the divorce from the EU.
It will take at least ten years to negotiate a new trading settlement with the EU (that's considered an optimistic estimate by the way as it took Switzerland and Norway even longer to negotiate their own agreements - and also assumes that the EU is playing nice).
In the meantime pretty much every trade agreement that the UK had globally - which were based upon the UK's membership of the EU - will have to be renegotiated.
And contrary to what the Brexiters and Trump seem to convey these kind of negotiations are not just made over a single cup of tea and a cosy chat - but require huge amounts of logistical support from Civil Servants, Lawyers and Economists.
As a result many other countries probably will not even want to waste the time and money in negotiating bi-lateral arrangements until the UK's trading status with Europe is established (which - as mentioned above will take 10 years minimum).
Even if everyone does rush to the UK with open arms to negotiate new deals - the logistical support required to work out the detail on each of these deals would limit the number of new deals to maybe a couple each year - unless the Government is willing to fund a massive expansion in Britain's Civil Service.
The consequences of this decision will put the UK in a trading black hole which it will take at least a generation to recover from.
Short term indeed...