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  • #1

    Transatlantic Free Trade Zone?

    Just read an article (in German) that dealt with the rise of Asian countries as (at least) economic powers and how the west should react to that.

    One idea was to create something like a "NATO for the economy" - a transatlantic free trade zone. He mentioned Kissinger as one who brought that one up....the tone was basically that some political differences between Europe and America are rather secondary in light of the political and economic challenge coming from coutries like China or India, and that so both sides of the Atlantic would be much better off when creating such a zone.

    Since I don't claim to be an expert in economic matters I can't really make up my mind about this. What do you think of the idea?
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  • #2
    It'd be better if they'd use their energy to get the WTO negotiations going again.
    DISCLAIMER: the author of the above written texts does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for any offence and insult; disrespect, arrogance and related forms of demeaning behaviour; discrimination based on race, gender, age, income class, body mass, living area, political voting-record, football fan-ship and musical preference; insensitivity towards material, emotional or spiritual distress; and attempted emotional or financial black-mailing, skirt-chasing or death-threats perceived by the reader of the said written texts.

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    • #3
      The author did seem to focus more on the political impact than on "normal" free trade issues related to the WTO. He was arguing more from the POV that the economic challenge esp. from China could finally also lead to a decline in western influence generally, and that this would threaten the political principles favorized (and often thought as universal) in the west (liberal democracy, individual rights etc.).

      Of course that's all debatable, and there's plenty of "fall of the occident" and "we'll speak Chinese soon" fear mongering already, but still the basic point how the west will and should react to those problems is worth discussing IMO.
      Last edited by BeBMan; September 22, 2006, 07:35.
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      • #4
        A Trans-Atlantic Economic Union, which included the EU, Canada, Mexico, and the US is something I have long hoped for. I'm glad people are talking about ideas that are baby steps in that direction. Nice.



        -=Vel=-
        The list of published books grows. If you're curious to see what sort of stories I weave out, head to Amazon.com and do an author search for "Christopher Hartpence." Help support Candle'Bre, a game created by gamers FOR gamers. All proceeds from my published works go directly to the project.

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        • #5
          Errr, Mexico?

          EU + Canada + US would be smooth though

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          • #6
            Nah. Screw that...
            12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
            Stadtluft Macht Frei
            Killing it is the new killing it
            Ultima Ratio Regum

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            • #7
              Europe is getting more and more irrelevant economically.

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              • #8
                What's the point?

                The US only respects the parts of free trade they like. Any parts they don't will be ignored. See softwood lumber 'free trade'.
                "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
                "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

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                • #9
                  That really is a big deal up there, eh? I know precisely nothing about it (other than you all seem pissed about it).

                  -Arrian
                  grog want tank...Grog Want Tank... GROG WANT TANK!

                  The trick isn't to break some eggs to make an omelette, it's convincing the eggs to break themselves in order to aspire to omelettehood.

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                  • #10
                    They subsidize thier lumber and are pissed we slapped a tarrif on it.
                    I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
                    For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by DinoDoc
                      They subsidize thier lumber and are pissed we slapped a tarrif on it.
                      Not according to the dispute panel (time after time after....)
                      "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
                      "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

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                      • #12
                        The French would never go for this. Sorry.

                        And if they did go for this, they would also go for another round of WTO liberalization, making the NATO economic zone have limited value.
                        I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

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                        • #13
                          This is silly. There is no such thing as an "economic challenge" that would necessitate preferential trade agreements. It's an example of the zero-sum-game view of trade, which is false.
                          THEY!!111 OMG WTF LOL LET DA NOMADS AND TEH S3D3NTARY PEOPLA BOTH MAEK BITER AXP3REINCES
                          AND TEH GRAAT SINS OF THERE [DOCTRINAL] INOVATIONS BQU3ATH3D SMAL
                          AND!!1!11!!! LOL JUST IN CAES A DISPUTANT CALS U 2 DISPUT3 ABOUT THEYRE CLAMES
                          DO NOT THAN DISPUT3 ON THEM 3XCAPT BY WAY OF AN 3XTARNAL DISPUTA!!!!11!! WTF

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                          • #14
                            It's not only about trade, it's about economic strength overall, and this has political impact. This is in fact one of the main reasons for the existence of the EU.
                            Blah

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by DinoDoc
                              They subsidize thier lumber and are pissed we slapped a tarrif on it.
                              I've got about a gajillion rulings saying we don't
                              12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
                              Stadtluft Macht Frei
                              Killing it is the new killing it
                              Ultima Ratio Regum

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