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Peter Ungphakorn @CoppetainPU
, 3 tweets, 1 min read Read on Twitter
Useful insight into the minds of effective trade negotiators, kangaroos and wallabies
This reminds me of a gem from a former US intellectual property expert, one of the negotiators who produced the WTO's TRIPS Agreement in the 1986–94 Uruguay Round talks.

From: wto.org/english/res_e/… Four axioms for successful a negotiation:<br /> • all participants should benefit<br /> • all should prioritize objectives and even accept difficult changes to their own regime<br /> • a realistic assessment of what is achievable in the light of overall goals<br /> • flexibility on the different ways progress can be achieved<br /> — Catherine Field, former Deputy General Counsel, USTR,<br /> (from The Making of the TRIPS Agreement: WTO, 2015)
Sorry that should be "former USTR intellectual property expert".

(Perhaps one day Twitter will allow us to edit)
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Some Brexiters (by no means all) apparently see “no deal” increasingly as a “viable” option, particularly no deal on March 29.

Those who argue in favour, need to address in detail the weight of evidence that it would be seriously harmful for many.

huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/increasi…

1/17
Remember:

1. Arguing against “no deal” is not arguing against Brexit. (It’s sad that this has to be repeated.)

2. “No deal” on March 29, is far worse than a gradual transition to “no deal” over a number of years. And it can’t be a “managed no deal” unless there’s a deal.

2/17
3. Even “no deal” on March 29 won’t mean the end of the world (a phrase used repeatedly), but for many it could mean the end of their present livelihoods.

If it’s a “viable” option, define “viable”.

And for whom?

3/17
Read 20 tweets
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The "transitional arrangement" @bbaschuk refers to is, for now, the proposed Withdrawal Agreement (WA). It has provisions (129.1) specifically dealing with issues such as the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

What needs to be sorted out?

1/10

gov.uk/government/pub…
With the WA, the time to sort out the GPA is extended under the WA's transition period. Without the WA and no consensus in the WTO's Government Procurement Committee (the GPA signatories), UK preferential access is lost.

2/10

Source (paywalled): ….agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/PL218600/New-s… Screenshot of paragraphs in the linked paywalled article quoting a WTO news story in which the UK and EU say the UK will be treated as an EU member until the end of the transition, and Article 129.1 plus footnote of the draft Withdrawal Agreement
The problem isn't the UK's offer (already accepted in principle) but legalese & procedure in the committee's draft decision

@bbaschuk shared a leaked US amendment to the EU's draft committee decision.

It is revealing. This first part is unamended.

3/10

drive.google.com/file/d/1pW-3P0… Screenshot of the top of page 2 of the US proposed draft decision, down to
Read 10 tweets
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This is nonsense.

No one does deals to "escape" the WTO. They remain WTO members, bound by the agreements they made in the WTO.

They get some better terms through free trade deals, but the WTO agreements remain the shell. Those free trade agreements reside within the WTO shell
One of the needs of Brexit (whatever the outcome) is to understand the implications for trade, including the WTO and its agreements.

It doesn't help if influential people like @mikegalsworthy & @Scientists4EU can't be bothered to find out what the WTO really is.

Pointers

1/3
Here's somewhere to start: tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2017/12/17/wto…

2/3
Read 4 tweets

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One of my favorite things to do (which I don't do as much as I should, thanks to web-browsing) is go to an interesting section of a library, sit on the floor, take my time and go through what's on the shelf and I can't believe what I just found.
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001/ [article content in this tweet series 001-180 reproduced with permission from Martin Howe QC of Lawyers for Britain @lawyers4britain]
#quote "Leaving the EU on WTO terms: pulling down the barriers to world trade
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"Trump has used Harley-Davidson as an example of a US business that is being harmed by trade barriers. Yet Harley has warned consistently against tariffs, saying they would negatively impact sales"

Harley, hit by tariffs, shifts some production overseas apnews.com/6c8942f7363743…
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Thread. I have never negotiated an international agreement. However, I dedicated a decade of my life to watching at close quarters some of the world’s smartest and most effective trade negotiators in action. Here are some lessons I learned.
1. Master every aspect of your brief and ensure you understand fully what you are dealing with down to the finest technical detail.
2. Spend a long time developing your negotiating objectives and strategy. Define your offensive and defensive goals and decide where you are prepared to compromise. Never set out rigid red lines in advance.
Read 11 tweets

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