Thread by @hhesterm

When FTAs go mainstream, the problem is that every publication needs to write about them. But most don’t have people on staff who understand them. /1

I would guess that a majority of those who have heard about the UK-Oz FTA think that the agreement is in force now. It isn’t. /2

But trade experts really don’t help (nostra culpa, nostra culpa, nostra maxima culpa) by inventing concepts such as ‘agreement in principle’. Where the parties are sure that they’ll reach an FTA shortly, but haven’t yet. /3

So what to do? If you want to make sure, try to speak with an expert when you’ve been tasked with writing something.