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Sydney Nash Profile picture
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20 Oct, 15 tweets, 4 min read
Wow! 86 treaties. Not just an Australia deal, but a bucket full of Australia deals. Amazing. I’m going to take a look at these. Thanks for the link.

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
Right, let’s start from the beginning – Constitution of the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the UN, 1945...

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
...Sounds pretty cool, if a bit old. But, it's a multilateral treaty, rather than an Australia deal with the EU. Plus it doesn’t relate to trade. Not to worry, there are loads of others.
Next, the Hague Conference on Private International Law. I like The Hague, but this is multilateral again and not about trade.
ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
Hang on, this is more like it, a customs convention. Specifically, the Customs Convention on the temporary importation of private road vehicles, 1957. Wait. It’s another multilateral treaty. Where are the Australia only deals?
ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
I like this one. Long title. Must be good...
ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
...Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be, blah, blah blah. It’s another multilateral agreement! I want Australia and Australia alone.
Right, let’s go by decade.

4 treaties from the 1950s. All multilateral

4 from the ‘60s and ‘70s. All multilateral

13 from the ‘80s. All multilateral. But wait, no, there it is, an Australian deal, not one, not two, but three. Wait long enough and they will come. Exciting.
Let’s take a look:

1980 – An agreement between the European Economic Community and Australia on trade in mutton, lamb and goat meat.

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
1984 – An agreement on cheese. Now we’re talking

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
1994 – An agreement on wine.

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
1998 – An agreement on conformity assessment.

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
2008 – An agreement consolidating bilateral arrangements on aviation.

Take that remoaners. Keep them coming!

Oh. No wait. That’s it.

ec.europa.eu/world/agreemen…
So 86 agreements, of which 66 are multilateral, and of the remaining 22 agreements that are actually with Australia, only 8 relate to trade, 3 of which amend previous agreements. So 5 deals. Just 5. Not 86. And no Free Trade Agreement anywhere to be seen.
I’m so disappointed. I feel genuinely cheated. I think Euro Guido has seriously oversold this (or are they just being disingenuous). Either way, they really should know better.

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More from @NashSGC

Sydney Nash Profile picture
21 Oct
Some future gazing regarding #Brexit. Two possible scenarios for consideration, and under both, Brexit just doesn’t go away.
1.We get a deal this year. It's thin for goods, with the benefits broadly limited to zero tariffs, at least on paper if not always in practice (see rules of origin & #automotive), & largely non-existent for services.
This new FTA world comes with considerable new cost that sends some businesses to the wall, and new friction that will cause significant disruption in some places (see Kent), but not everywhere.
Read 18 tweets
Sydney Nash Profile picture
20 Oct
Some future gazing on #Brexit. Two possible scenarios under consideration...
1. We get a deal before the end of the transition. It's thin for goods, with the benefits broadly limited to zero tariffs, at least on paper if not always in practice (see rules of origin &#automotive), & largely nonexistent for services.
The new world of trading on an FTA comes with considerable new cost that sends some businesses to the wall, and new friction that will cause significant disruption in some places (see Kent), but none in others.
Read 12 tweets
Sydney Nash Profile picture
20 Oct
I'm a little late this this, but this conversation between @rafaelbehr & @fotoole on #Brexit, nationalism & a lot more besides is terrific. Highly recommended listening.
I particularly enjoyed the analysis of the Italian Job & the fascinating observation regarding the symbolism of the Union flag (prominent at the beginning of the film) being replaced by the flag of St. George, as English football fans descend on Turin.
This is all the more interesting since the Italian Job was made only three yrs after Eng. won the World Cup in front of a crowd full of waving Union flags.
Read 5 tweets
Sydney Nash Profile picture
9 Oct
A few thoughts on the extent to which the EU does, or does not have a strategy when it comes to (i) #Brexit; and (ii) its long term relationship with the UK.
I have previously argued that the #EU appeared to be determined to treat the phase-two negotiations as though #Brexit were simply a matter of trade, rather than what it actually represents, namely the most extraordinary geopolitical curveball thrown in the west in a generation.
However, this depiction of the #EU’s approach isn’t quite fair. The EU is treating phase-two, both as a matter of trade, but also as a threat to it’s own short, medium & long-term interests.
Read 21 tweets
Sydney Nash Profile picture
8 Oct
Following some interesting exchanges, here’s a few late night thoughts on the extent to which the EU does, or does not have a strategy when it comes to (i) Brexit; and (ii) its long term relationship with the UK.
I have previously argued that the EU appeared to be determined to treat the phase-two negotiations as though Brexit were simply a matter of trade, rather than what it actually represents, namely the most extraordinary geopolitical curveball thrown in the west in a generation.
However, this depiction of the EU’s approach isn’t quite fair. The EU is treating phase-two, both as a matter of trade, but also as a threat to it’s own short, medium & long-term interests.
Read 19 tweets
Sydney Nash Profile picture
17 Sep
Stuck in a queue at the border? Take a quick break at the #Brexit drive-thru.

What can I get you?
Brexit

Okay. And how would you like that?
Hard
Can you be a bit more precise?

Certainly. I want complete regulatory autonomy, no EU laws anywhere in this most united of United Kingdoms, and the same Brexit for all four nations. Got it?
Sure. Anything else?

Well, I’m told I shouldn’t threaten peace and security. Best add a side order of “respecting the Good Friday Agreement”.
Read 14 tweets

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