"The customs union which you call a ‘protectionist racket’ is the one which has negotiated (via the TTIP) preferential tariffs which has enabled us to be, by your own admission, their top trading partner."
I thought I'd keep quiet about the TTIP, Zacs. But since you're now using it as a catalyst for the UK's success, perhaps you can explain how it has contributed to it. I think you should read this:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/december/tradoc_118238.pdf
Importantly:
"Negotiations with the United States on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) were stopped until further notice at the end of 2016."
The TTIP is "un canard mort" and is unlikely to be revived with the assistance of a good vet - even an EU one.