Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Art of Someone Else’s Deal: Europe and Mexico show the world can trade without the U.S.
Wall Street Journal ^ | April 23, 2018

Posted on 04/24/2018 4:43:29 AM PDT by reaganaut1

Mexico and the European Union agreed to a new trade deal over the weekend, and the timing is no accident. With the French and German leaders in Washington this week, and the Nafta talks getting serious, America’s trading partners are showing that the world won’t stop if the U.S. goes protectionist.

The EU-Mexico deal is the sort of trade opening that is increasingly common beyond America’s shores. The two sides have agreed in principle to remove protections on a long list of agricultural goods, and to expand two-way trade in services such as travel and telecommunications. The pact also will open government procurement to foreign competition, particularly at the state and local levels in Mexico. The two sides traded goods and services worth $76 billion last year.

Which shows what the U.S. is missing as the world goes by. The baseline for a modern trade deal goes well beyond the reduction in tariffs on manufactured goods that used to be the standard aim. Now a useful trade deal includes agricultural liberalization, and a chapter reducing regulatory barriers to trade and at least a few services. All of these negotiating planks play to America’s commercial strengths.

Recent deals include the EU-Canada agreement known as CETA, Europe’s trade deal with Japan, and a multilateral Pacific agreement that was reborn after President Trump withdrew the U.S. from Trans-Pacific Partnership talks. The U.S. is part of none of these deals, and the President has also made no effort to revive negotiations toward a U.S. deal with the EU.

This is an important week for trade, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel hoping to persuade Mr. Trump to extend Europe’s exemption from U.S. steel tariffs beyond May 1.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: tariffs; trade
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

1 posted on 04/24/2018 4:43:30 AM PDT by reaganaut1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Good for them. Maybe they can also show the world that they can take care of their own defense needs without relying on the USA? ...probably not.


2 posted on 04/24/2018 4:50:50 AM PDT by captain_dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Great. France and Germany can further hurt their economies with cheap imports from Mexico. And it helps our southern neighbor.

Meantime, the US is still working to stop the hemorrhaging of jobs and industries, and reversing it to MAGA!

And we don’t really care if Europe does something stupid to try to get the US to do something to.

Mom used to ask us if our friends jumped off a bridge, would we jump too? You knew the answer better be No.


3 posted on 04/24/2018 4:54:15 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

IIRC, bilateral trade agreements are exactly what Trump prefers instead of regional and inter-regional ones.


4 posted on 04/24/2018 4:55:45 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel and NRA Life Member)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Mexico doesn’t need us? Oh no. I guess we can send them all back then.


5 posted on 04/24/2018 4:56:58 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Maybe the Wall Street Journal should be renamed the Rue des Barres Journal


6 posted on 04/24/2018 4:58:25 AM PDT by ImNotLying (The Consti.tution is an instrument for the people to restrain the government...Patrick Henry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

They deserve each other

Let’s see the free trade provisions for influx of Mexicos poorest into Europe


7 posted on 04/24/2018 4:58:26 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Hey brainwashed students . . . where's your "outrage" @FBI? @BrowardSheriff? DO SOMETHING!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN

Germany and France will trade with Iran, but not with us...

With allies like this, who needs enemies?

Or NATO.


8 posted on 04/24/2018 4:59:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Has the FBI been spying on members of Congress?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1
The Globalist scum at the WSJ think they are clever peddling this BS .

The Murdoch newsletter is pathetic .

Let Europe have all the blood suckers from that third world hell too .

The evil agenda of the Globalists never rests .

9 posted on 04/24/2018 5:00:28 AM PDT by ncalburt (Gop DC Globalists out themselves every day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

WSJ still on their globalist crapola.

Reciprical Trade or fuggetaboutit.

Also, China and other countries used “country of origen” loopholes to kill us. They launder their products through Canada and Mexico via NAFTA to screw us, with Mehico and Canada getting their cut without actually producing. BS to that!!!

MAGA!


10 posted on 04/24/2018 5:00:46 AM PDT by Basket_of_Deplorables (Trump has implemented Supply Side Economics!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

The US is a huge market. Other countries are investing in and trading with Mexico so they can have their products enter the US as Mexican made. If you delve into the EU/Mexico trade, how much of it is between those two as opposed to EU goods having one last button sewn or screw added so they can become Mexican made for entry into the US? This is one of the things Trump wanted to undo in the NAFTA accord.


11 posted on 04/24/2018 5:05:31 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

France’s unemployment rate as of Dec was 9.2%. They need a trade deal with Mexico like a hole in the head.

Germany’s in better shape with an unemmployment rate of 3.2%. The pain from the trade deal won’t be as obvious there. They can lose a few industries before they notice.


12 posted on 04/24/2018 5:10:07 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: captain_dave
It will be interesting to see how a produce recall is carried out across the Atlantic.

Tainted romaine lettuce? Salmonella outbreak due to onions?

Welcome to (Mexican) farm-to-table roulette!

13 posted on 04/24/2018 5:14:54 AM PDT by LoveUSA (God employs Man's strength; Satan exploits Man's weakness.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1
America’s trading partners are showing that the world won’t stop if the U.S. goes protectionist.

Is this comedy? THE REST OF THE WORLD IS PROTECTIONIST! Do I have to post the tariff rate schedule of the entire world, again? This will show the average tariff the USA charges is less than 2% and the rest of the world 8% or more.

14 posted on 04/24/2018 5:15:03 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Stay the course Mr. President. And damn the torpedoes - they are temporary anyway provided we do not waiver in MAGA.


15 posted on 04/24/2018 5:17:18 AM PDT by Paulie (America without Christ is like a Chemistry book without the periodic table.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN
France and Iran strengthen business ties Europe has been looking to increase trade with Iran since world powers agreed to lift most economic sanctions on Iran.

This Mexico cr@p looks like a squeeze play to me...

16 posted on 04/24/2018 5:20:41 AM PDT by mewzilla (Has the FBI been spying on members of Congress?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

The US market is the world’s biggest and most lucrative. We have all the leverage.


17 posted on 04/24/2018 5:29:18 AM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ImNotLying

This article is nothing more than propaganda.

It puts the thought into people’s heads that America is irrelevant, and simply one country among many, which is not true.

It is articles like this that prepare the next generation of Americans for mediocrity.

I think we should fight that mentality, and punish the Elites who push it.


18 posted on 04/24/2018 5:32:17 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (Idiocracy is here, and it votes democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

What a waste of time, the EU won’t be around in 10 years ...


19 posted on 04/24/2018 5:32:35 AM PDT by SecondAmendment (Restoring our Republic at 9.8357x10^8 FPS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla
Germany and France will trade with Iran, but not with us...

They'll trade with Iran because the Iran deal allows them to. If the U.S. drops out of that then the Iranian market is closed to the U.S. and Europe and Asia will pick up the deals.

Germany and France will always trade with the U.S. because there is a market here for their goods. But the European market for U.S. goods will be impacted by the lack of trade agreements.

Or NATO.

Then drop out.

20 posted on 04/24/2018 5:34:24 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson