As much as overriding our national preferences

What we are looking at is an emergent global single market where the rules are formed through a consultative process, largely divorced form any democratic institutions. But it is all agreed on a multilateral basis - sector by sector instead of regionally. That is the modern and more appropriate paradigm. In this, at best we can say the EU is a redundant drag factor. I would go as far as saying it is uniquely damaging.

As much as overriding our national preferences, doing great harm to various industries in the process - and imposing inappropriate solutions on Britain, its own supranational agenda on global forums sees it pushing for more dominance more regulatory hegemony - not with a view to opening up world trade, rather it seeks to maintain the garden-walled EU market. It only gradually opens up, at a glacial pace according to whatever its own priorities are - which may not be the same as ours.

The Spanish economy may demand of the EU that it puts most of its runtime to opening up links with South America - whereas we may have more pressing concerns elsewhere. Nobody is served by having the EU dictate our trade agenda.