EU & Brexit Bunker

[PurplePenguin]

Let me guess: Burnham is still trying Cake & Eat It.

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Or the EU is still trying to Cake and Eat it.

 

[PurplePenguin]

Maybe, maybe not. The prospect of dealing with an institution that doesn't retract an agreement before the ink in the signature is dry probably compensates for some concessions.

They suffered this with Wallonia last time.

 

[Psamathe]

Given the challenges of agreeing the EU-Canada trade deal and that Canada still has not reached agreement with the UK, I feel like this is pretty unlikely to happen. It may sound vaguely appealing to the average Canadian now, but they won't like it when the actual detail is discovered.

Maybe, maybe not. The prospect of dealing with an institution that doesn't retract an agreement before the ink in the signature is dry probably compensates for some concessions.

Also between countries that recognise mutual benefit rather than zero sum game. For Trümp to "win" others have to "lose" whereas things like trade can deliver mutual benefit and EU recognises that.

How difficult probably depends on scope of goods covered. Whilst undoubtedly there are some EU protectionist rules, I see many as ensuring a level playing field eg where EU has chosen to protect its citizens from toxic pesticide residues, that imposes additional production costs so allowing other counties who poison their citizens in the name of cheap contaminated food to flood your own markets is not that "equal footing".

 

[C R]

They suffered this with Wallonia last time.

The agreement was not ratified because Wallonia opposed it. That's different from signing an agreement and then the other part walking out once it is in force.

The issue is that the US can not be trusted to keep to the agreements it signs up to.

 

[PurplePenguin]

The agreement was not ratified because Wallonia opposed it. That's different from signing an agreement and then the other part walking out once it is in force.

The issue is that the US can not be trusted to keep to the agreements it signs up to.

So the deal that Canada thought it had done was reopened. Yes, it is different from Trump's pencil, but it is hardly a tattoo.

 

[C R]

So the deal that Canada thought it had done was reopened. Yes, it is different from Trump's pencil, but it is hardly a tattoo.

The deal had not been done. It had to be ratified and it wasn't. Canada would have been aware of the process.

 

[briantrumpet]

Or the EU is still trying to Cake and Eat it.

They drive a hard bargain – hardly news. Labour still thinking the UK can get preferential treatment having taken a decision that hurt both parties – is hardly news either.

But the UK isn't going to get Single Market/Customs Union access without accepting the conditions which all the other members – either full EU members, or EEA members – have to abide by, because to do so would simply break the EU (which obviously some people want to).