Posted on 10/29/2015 2:33:04 PM PDT by amorphous
One of the most important decisions Brits have to make before the end of 2017 (most likely some time next year) is whether or not to remain in the European Union, and while recent polls have those willing to stay in as the majority, there has been a spike in support for leaving the bloc which coupled with Europe's refugee crisis has made a Brexit an all too possible outcome.
Which probably explains why the U.S., confident it sill has veto power over democracies anywhere in the world, has just made it quite clear to UK's citizens which way they should vote.
According to the Guardian, the US trade representative, Michael Froman, in the first public comments from a senior US official on the matter, said that "the United States is not keen on pursuing a separate free trade deal with Britain if it leaves the European Union."
Just like in the case of Scotland's vote last year, trade is being used a key bargaining chip, or rather ultimatum: vote the way we want, or else. Guardian adds that Froman’s comments on Wednesday undermine a key economic argument deployed by proponents of exit, who say Britain would prosper on its own and be able to secure bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with trading partners.
The US is Britain’s biggest export market after the EU, buying more than $54bn (£35bn) in goods from the UK in 2014.
“I think it’s absolutely clear that Britain has a greater voice at the trade table being part of the EU, being part of a larger economic entity,†Froman told Reuters, adding that EU membership gives Britain more leverage in negotiations.
“We’re not particularly in the market for FTAs with individual countries. We’re building platforms … that other countries can join over time.â€
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
They’re ALL ‘fellow travelers’.
Obama wants to make darned SURE that UK sinks into the abyss
between this sort of economic attack on the UK... and UK’s own immigration policies.... its happening folks, the sun is indeed setting on not only the British Empire, but Britain itself
say Ta-ta...
I agree. Hit the ground running.
It just enhances the resume.
Where world leadership would accept a visit, I’d be for it.
Because the EU is the government version of the UN - and the left love that
I’d bet Putin would be glad to fill that void. Morons!
By the time the referendum is held in 2017, Obama will be out of office. Even Hillary will not be as anti-British as him.
Then again, Trump was once well in with the separatist Scottish National Party, so he can’t be trusted to be pro-British.
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