EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

I'm not too sure here but maybe we could be used as a stepping stone to trading with the EU for others outside the EU. Could benefit both parties then?

Being a member of the single market and customs union makes us the EU border, in all but name - to trade with us would be to trade with the EU, so no point using us as a stepping stone for routing goods into Europe for any new reason - access to ports, shipping infra etc still the same as it ever was.