Profile picture
Rick
@FlipChartRick
, 4 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
The language of international trade makes things that are crap sound good. Most Favoured Nation, for example, is the base level of WTO agreements. It’s what exists in the absence of any other agreement. It sounds good but it’s actually rubbish. wto.org/english/thewto…
The same is true for Free Trade Agreements. They make trade more free than it would be without them but nowhere near as free as it is within the EU, as explained here. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Even if we were able to negotiate FTAs with the EU, the US and the Commonwealth, it still wouldn’t compensate for the loss of our current free trade with the EU.
Like ‘Most Favoured Nation’, ‘Free Trade Agreement’ sounds good but it’s actually really crap and a lot worse than what we’ve got now.
Missing some Tweet in this thread?
You can try to force a refresh.

Like this thread? Get email updates or save it to PDF!

Subscribe to Rick
Profile picture

Get real-time email alerts when new unrolls are available from this author!

This content may be removed anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @FlipChartRick see all

Profile picture
Rick
@FlipChartRick
A few things about asylum.
Asylum isn't a big contributor to overall immigration. Apart from a spike in the early 2000s, it never has been. (Via @MigObs)
Most asylum claims are refused.
Read 9 tweets
Profile picture
Rick
@FlipChartRick
Brexit: 9 lessons but no carols. Great speech by Ivan Rogers, former UK ambassador to the EU, on the mess we are now in. (HT @DavidHenigUK) news.liverpool.ac.uk/2018/12/13/ful…
This needs repeating often. BBC interviewers, especially, need to understand this so that, every time a Brexter makes stuff up about not needing border checks, they can put him in his place.
I take no comfort from the thought of Jacob Rees-Mogg being tarred and feathered by an angry mob a few years from now. The damage will have been done by then.
Read 12 tweets
Profile picture
Rick
@FlipChartRick
Most of the people who claim the EU is trying to punish the UK also say they believe in market forces. Mogg, Hannan, Johnson, for example. (1)
But isn’t Brexit the ultimate market-testing of the UK’s international prestige? Is the UK an influential global power because we are just bloody good, or because it sits at the intersection of the EU, NATO and the Anglophone world? (2)
What happens when you take one element of that (the EU) away? Is the UK so bloody good that the EU will sacrifice its rules to maintain good relationships with us? Will other countries eagerly roll over their EU trade deals to include us? (3)
Read 12 tweets

Related threads

Profile picture
Pete North
@PeteNorth303
1. There is a goliath dishonesty afoot among the leave camp that I want no part of. Everyone from Gisela Stuart through to Spiked Online, CrapX and John Redwood are pretending that anything that isn't no deal is not #Brexit. This is a sickening lie.
2. International relations are a rich tapestry of agreements ranging from exchange of letters through to mutual recognition agreements through to formal MoUs and FTAs. Nobody deals one default terms alone.
3. To that that end every nation on earth has binding obligations both with trading partners and international organisations on everything from fishing to space policy. Everything functions on integrated systems of rules.
Read 23 tweets
Profile picture
Sibel Edmonds
@sibeledmonds
#Khashoggi Case Thread: I am going to ‘pin’ this post to use it as an ‘Info Thread’ on the #Khashoggi Case. I am in #Turkey. I’ve been following the case closely and with access to sources & experts here. This is a very ‘sensitive’ criminal case due to ‘Diplomatic Booby Traps’!!!
The Evidence Obtained Outside Cameras will not show any evidence of ‘tempering’ but other than license plates of dozens of diplomatic cars (Many with tinted windows-large trunks) with related time stamp, drivers Info, model/year: Nothing.
#Turkish Intel-Investigative Bodies also have the list of all Diplomatic & Private Saudi & “other significant’ Planes in #Turkey for the period of ‘interest.’ Many of the Target airports have their own security cameras & related evidence.
Read 335 tweets
Profile picture
Penny Midas Rollo
@PennyMidasRollo
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
Introduction: why prices will FALL after Brexit, not rise" /002
002/ #quote "Over the past couple of weeks, the media have been full of lurid scare stories about what will happen if the UK leaves the EU on WTO terms, because negotiations with the EU do not result in a withdrawal agreement." /003
#tariffs #NoDeal #Brexit #WTO #ProjectFear #shortages #food #medicines
003/ #quote "One of the most ridiculous and UNJUSTIFIED of these absurd scare stories is that it will lead to higher prices, and even shortages, of foods and medicines." /004
Read 180 tweets
Profile picture
NotMyPresident
@ironstowe
THREAD

Can #Trump Terminate Trade Agreements Without Congressional Approval

#NAFTA
1.Congressional approval has been a central requirement for the #UnitedStates to enter into all of the international trade deals currently in force

#NAFTA
2.#UnitedStates is party to 14 international free trade agreements with 20 countries. President negotiates free trade agreements with foreign countries and submits to Congress legislation that would implement the agreements.

#NAFTA
Read 22 tweets
Profile picture
Den Opal
@selzero
I'm often asked, Where are we on Brexit and where is it likely to go?

The outcome of the process will be dictated by the interaction of the various players and their motivations. /1
To recap, the environment currently consists of a very divided Parliament. The government is propped up by the DUP, there are pro-Brexit MPs on both sides, as well as centrists. The Brexit divide goes across party lines. /2
There is also the EU itself, which is protecting the jewel in it's crown, the Single Market. And finally the WTO, whose rules will be valid in one form or another under any form of Brexit./3
Read 26 tweets
Profile picture
Julie Laumann 🌎
@Otpor17
"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…
Important issue highlighted by @riotwomennn: are tariff exemptions determined by bribes?

Corker: "22,000 companies have asked for exemptions.There is no basis to deal with them. Are they going to grant these exclusions based on political contributions?"
Trump’s trade war with the European Union is going to cost Harley-Davidson as much as $100 million a year and force the manufacturer to shift production out of the U.S. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Read 232 tweets

Trending hashtags

#makeamericagreatagain #flatshark #Propaganda #Healthcare #Consulate #premium #ByePhoenicia #environment #prices #Regulation #SaudiGov #EMA #ISDS #finfacts #Ireland #workers #obligations #WMD #Italian #indicators #VoterSuppression #WERKforConsent #US #Habermas #world

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member and get exclusive features!

Premium member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year)

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!