tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post132035469387461023..comments2024-03-29T13:32:22.201+00:00Comments on Capitalists@Work: Trade Agreements: A Very Pressing ConcernCityUnslickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15929544047783163175noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-34448678410441040232015-10-31T09:08:44.572+00:002015-10-31T09:08:44.572+00:00A fullrigged threemaster, Nick - lovely boat.A fullrigged threemaster, Nick - lovely boat.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-37386431078700219372015-10-30T17:55:18.501+00:002015-10-30T17:55:18.501+00:00Sterling has just hit €1.40 - so much for "fr...Sterling has just hit €1.40 - so much for "free" trade area in the EU. <br /><br />On the other hand, my hols next week will be cheaper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-19815256090995207492015-10-30T17:12:41.157+00:002015-10-30T17:12:41.157+00:00It's taken as axiomatic by our leaders that mo...It's taken as axiomatic by our leaders that more trade is always good. But is it? If the price of more stuff from Asian slave factories is liquidating British jobs or borders or overseas possessions then I don't see where the advantage is (vested interests apart). Protectionist is thrown out as catch-all insult, like nazi. But what is so wrong with wanting to protect what you have?DJKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-70950529475283681862015-10-30T16:26:30.643+00:002015-10-30T16:26:30.643+00:00@CU - of course, nothing to worry about government...@CU - of course, nothing to worry about governments signing secret agreements; must be brilliant!<br /><br />Little short of fascism this lark.MyHalfBloodyTermNamenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-31297371042673312032015-10-30T15:53:51.862+00:002015-10-30T15:53:51.862+00:00All the lefties are aghast at TTIP; it must be bri...All the lefties are aghast at TTIP; it must be brilliant news by definition.CityUnslickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929544047783163175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-32581471473702290402015-10-30T14:09:59.628+00:002015-10-30T14:09:59.628+00:00As DJK said,
and
Our major strength is financial...<br />As DJK said,<br /><br />and<br /><br />Our major strength is financial services (for better or worse).<br />These depend on open and fair(ish) trading.<br /><br />All we have that other people want is capital and relatively footloose banks (that hsbc didnt move means they aren't as footloose as some think, but there is a breaking point)<br /><br />Do you think other countries will say <br /><br />a)'fine, lets carry on as before'<br />b) The 'preciouss is mine nowww'<br /><br />In the same way that the US is busy structuring the rules of world IP and trade to suit them for the next 100 years, any new agreement will be on their terms <br /><br />or the EUs terms or China's terms or Spain's terms (gibraltar) etc etc<br /><br />because if we leave the EU we need them more than they need us.<br /><br />If you think the WTO will help, please ask any other small country (Antigua and online casino offerings into the US) how that is working for them.<br /><br /><br />andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07311993288675111834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-29528064947541442662015-10-30T13:55:59.505+00:002015-10-30T13:55:59.505+00:00EK is right that there is no such thing as free tr...EK is right that there is no such thing as free trade. Equalising tariffs is only fair if labour and environmental standards are the same on both sides.<br /><br />On trade agreements, Switzerland seems to be able to trade quite happily without having to grant 200 million Indian visas. Provided both sides have something the other wants then trade is mutually beneficial and agreements can be reached. But then Switzerland still makes things the world wants. As a result, they have a balance of payments surplus of 7% of GDP whereas we have a deficit of 5% of GDP.DJKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-50314337676247495812015-10-30T08:55:43.215+00:002015-10-30T08:55:43.215+00:00The EU has adopted greenism and human rights.
Su...The EU has adopted greenism and human rights. <br /><br />Such as China should not be allowed to trade with the EU until its factories comply too - certainly not in areas that put our own environmentally (and human rights) friendly factories out of business. <br /><br />Otherwise our progress in those areas is lost to the world. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Electro-Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18073103431166273080noreply@blogger.com