Why does it only provide for free movement of capital and goods but not of people?
Japan has an anti-immigration policy as far as I know. Seems like it's actually slowly getting better because of the increasing elderly population
EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
281–290 of 399 posts
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#282Earlier quoted context omitted.
'benefitted'
Yes, the UK benefitted greatly from the massive net positive contribtuions that immigration had on its economy.
The economy grows if there are more people in it. GDP is just all economic activity summed, so adding more people inherently grows GDP, which is what is usually meant by "the economy".
This obviously doesn't automatically mean everyone gets richer though, it just means more economic activity is now being counted under the UK vs other countries. This sort of immigration driven "growth" is sort of like a child "growing up" by getting fatter - yes it's definitely larger, but that doesn't mean healthier.
From the perspective of the average British person, merely having more people around doesn't inherently make things better even if GDP has gone up, and can practically make things worse if it happens too fast as there's a limit to how fast infrastructure can be built.
People who view the world exclusively via spreadsheets may struggle to understand this basic point, but everyone else can see it quite clearly.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#283Earlier quoted context omitted.
So then it IS apparently possible to have a free trade zone without freedom of movement.
Nobody ever said it wasn’t. See the famous Barnier Diagram from the very start of negotiations: https://goo.gl/images/AqyD7w Note the Canadian flag on the far right (pun imtended). It was one of the options on offer.
No, it wasn't. The EU is not insisting that parts of Canada obey EU law automatically and are effectively different countries as a result, which is what it's currently demanding of the UK. Nor did the EU demand tends of billions of euros from Canada in return for nothing in particular.
The EU has actually never been willing to discuss trade deals with the UK, let alone "let's be like Canada". So far it's refused entirely to even start such discussions. Barnier says a lot of things, as do others involved in the EU, but those things aren't consistent.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#284Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cheese (at least in France) is not a topping but something consumed after the main course (and with bread). I could see a donbury followed by some mild cheeses. Perhaps stronger cheeses might even go with bonito flakes or other dried fish products. I'm sure some experimentation in pairing could yield some interesting results.
That's probably only France, where cheese after meals is common. While it's frequently used as a topping in Italian cousine, it's nearly exclusively eaten on top of slices of (dark) bread as a standalone dish in German cousine (though Germans eat a lot of Italian food). The most American use of cheese (i.e. not Italian cousine related) is maybe the cheese flavored corn-snacks (e.g. cheetos).
Adding Quebec to the list of places where cheese is eaten after meals.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#285Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you know more than me, then isn't it incumbent on you to venture an opinion on why we're in the situation of trying to avoid a hard border? If you're asking for my personal, subjective opinion, then I think it's a combination of two factors. Firstly, there are the local issues. Taken in isolation, avoiding changes that would unnecessarily restrict crossings at the NI/Ireland border is obviously a good thing, parti…
So in your view who are the principle agents pushing for the backstop? The DUP are pro brexit, but I suppose would like the best of both worlds if they could, but weren't in favour of the proposed backstop. Teresa May, appears to me to be the principle agent, but while a remainer, seems to be more in favour of keeping her party together, than doing what's best for the country. So I cant really see her going for the b…
So in your view who are the principle agents pushing for the backstop?
As of today? The EU and particularly Ireland, though I think it's a fundamentally flawed strategy that probably will not result in the outcome they are hoping for.
The practical problem for the negotiators is that it was an idea that originated from the UK, so it's very hard for the UK to now turn around and say they don't want it after all, even though it has become the true red line for getting the proposed WA past the UK Parliament and into effect.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#286Finally a piece of good news in global politics
but bad news for global green politics. Most ecologists would rather limit international trade. (Just floating another point of view out there)
> For the first time, the trade agreement includes countries' Paris climate deal commitments.
> The text also addresses sustainable development and sets standards for labor, safety, environmental and consumer protection.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#287Lowering tarifs in general are good but my bet is that this is not really going to mean that much. This is only good for big corporations. For the rest it's bureaucrazy (pun intended) and frankly won't have that big of an impact no matter how big it is. Neither the EU nor the Japan are able to drive the market in any significant way. So it's great for Siemens but won't really matter to the little startup.
How is it beaurocracy to go from tariffs to no tariffs? Other than that, your cynicism is bland and boring. Why would consumers not reap at least some benefits from tariffs for cheese falling Faron 40% to zero. It’s not like there’s a big moat around the idea of shipping cheese from France to japan and selling it that would allow some monopolist to capture that difference.
For the small companies because of compliance they can rarely afford.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#288Earlier quoted context omitted.
> ... Singapore were clear pirate hubs that were harmful to any IP based economy. That's an absurd and factually incorrect statement.
You're aware of the history of singapore, right? Joke alert - it used to be a piracy hub.
arr. strait over my head.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#289Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Free trade is great when applied evenly. Free trade is great even when applied unevenly.
Surprised this was being downvoted because it is true. If countries engage in protectionism unilaterally, they are predominantly harming their own consumers and undermining competition of their own businesses. As Friedman used to point out, if Japan wants to subsidize its steel at the cost of their own taxpayers, just take the cheap steel and be thankful for it.
VAT in the EU behaves in a similar manner as a tariff would. Yet we seem to be doing rather okay in that sense.
Re: EU and Japan create world's biggest free trade zone
#290Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cheese (at least in France) is not a topping but something consumed after the main course (and with bread). I could see a donbury followed by some mild cheeses. Perhaps stronger cheeses might even go with bonito flakes or other dried fish products. I'm sure some experimentation in pairing could yield some interesting results.
That's probably only France, where cheese after meals is common. While it's frequently used as a topping in Italian cousine, it's nearly exclusively eaten on top of slices of (dark) bread as a standalone dish in German cousine (though Germans eat a lot of Italian food). The most American use of cheese (i.e. not Italian cousine related) is maybe the cheese flavored corn-snacks (e.g. cheetos).
In Australia, cheese is also commonly eaten as a prelude to a meal, or as a snack (often with alcohol).