Posted on 12/08/2012 10:00:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv
At a recent meeting of German business and foreign-policy leaders, one participant summed up an anxiety thats almost palpable here: Europeans have a sense of being left alone. You Americans dont understand how much we need you.
Europeans seem relieved that Barack Obama won reelection. (One German official wrote in an informal paper that his victory was the best thing that could have happened to the U.S.) But Europeans remain worried that the Obama administrations famous pivot toward Asia will leave them abandoned at a time of severe internal economic and political trouble.
But a big idea is taking shape that could revitalize the U.S.-European partnership for the 21st century. It was the talk of Berlin and Hamburg when I was there a week ago, and theres a similar buzz in Washington. The idea is free trade -- specifically, a trans-Atlantic free-trade agreement -- which Ill optimistically call TAFTA.
...Clinton is said to envision an economic NATO -- a comprehensive agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment and agriculture. Indeed, a joint working group of U.S. and E.U. officials is about to release a final report arguing for such a comprehensive deal.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Just what the lefties in DC want, to do to the USA what the lefties in the UK did to Britain. The EU started as a “free-trade” economic union after all.
Another stab at sovereignty and each nations own goals.
We can't save you from Islam unless you are at least willing to close the door.
G’night all.
David Ignatius and the Washington Post Flunk Trade Arithmetic Again
Dean Baker
Thursday December 6, 2012
http://my.firedoglake.com/deanbaker/2012/12/06/david-ignatius-and-the-washington-post-flunk-trade-arithmetic-again/
They don’t want free trade, they just want free ‘stuff’.
Germany has tightened up price controls for medications, and guess what ? Pfizer, Astra Zenica, and a 3rd pharma company are splitting.
buh bye
A “Free Trade” deal with Europe would effectively eliminate the US. The “Free Trade” deals with other countries have pretty much wrecked the US economy....and one with Europe would just mean America and Americans get screwed more
Why people insist on continuing failed 20th Century Keynesian Economics (Keynes policies started this modern “Free Trade” era) is insane.
We should be repudiating the free trade agreements we have now, not looking for yet another.
It surprises me how anti-free trade FR is.
Are tariffs not taxes that are then passed on to the consumer?
I do not want to pay more for imported goods to protect union scumbags here in Amerika.
“I do not want to pay more for imported goods to protect union scumbags here in Amerika.”
Me either.
Even I stand amazed sometimes, and remember, I’m sitting down right now.
/bingo
There is an enormous amount of hostility toward pretty much any idea expressed by anyone here at any time, but the anti-free trade seems like the most puzzling — tariffs? No! That’s a tax! Tax breaks for more domestic energy production? No! That’s a subsidy! More open markets? No!
“There is an enormous amount of hostility toward pretty much any idea expressed by anyone here at any time...”
Yep. You’ll have a permanent malcontent argue with you about the way you spell your name any on any given thread.
I see a direct link between lack of intellect and being in a state of permanent malcontentedness.
Baloney.
We have “free traded” ourselves into oblivion.
Our “free trade” partners do not believe in free trade themselves, only we cling to the mistaken idea.
Stop it.
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