Right, so, "Commerce" you say? Riveting. Naturally, like a glazed donut in a sugar factory, it’s behind a paywall. As if the headline wasn’t already beige enough.
Oh look, farmers. Angry farmers. Chuckles mirthlessly. Sounds about right. They’re probably fuming over the price of a tractor tyre ever since that fella Trump decided Brexit was a fantastic idea.
"Trade agreement with South America." Oh, the allure of a good old fashioned mercantilist bonanza. Imagine, lads: 780 million consumers, all clamouring for overpriced European cheese and questionable fashion.
Of course, someone’s gotta be the drama queen in this global marketplace tango, isn’t there? Enter France. They’re the only ones having a go at this South American shindig. Typical.
Let’s be honest, unless it involves berets, mime artists, or complaining about the price of croissants, the French just aren’t interested.
But seriously, they’re worried about the environment, the farmers, the… squints at notes "industrial fabric?" Sounds like someone’s been watching too much Marx.
That being said, if Trump resurrects himself like some sort of orange-tinted zombie, I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone starts grabbing onto any trade deal they can get their hands on.
It’s a funny old world, isn’t it? One minute you’re worried about global warming, the next you’re fighting over the right to sell cheap tractors to sweaty Argentinians.
And don’t even get me started on the Chinese. They’re just waiting in the wings with their chopsticks ready to scoop up whatever’s left.
Bloody hell. Commerce, eh? More like a circus designed by a Machiavellian accountant.
Maybe we should all just grow our own veg and wear burlap sacks. At least then we’d know where we stand.
Commerce
Article reserved for subscribers
Angry farmers fileObject of the farmers’ mobilization from Monday, the trade agreement with South America is, for the majority of European states, essential to the economic security of the EU, especially after the election of Donald Trump. France is the only big country to want to oppose it.
Will Trump 2.0 accelerate the signing of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) which should create a vast commercial zone of 780 million inhabitants? ? The fear aroused by the imminent return to power of this isolationist Republican, who has promised to launch a trade war against Europe and China, pushes the Commission and the vast majority of Member States to want to conclude as quickly as possible. , even if this means going beyond France. Especially since China is only waiting for one thing, to take Europe’s place in a market in which it is increasingly present.
Already, the election of Trump 1.0 had given new vigor to these trade agreements whose hour of glory seemed to have passed. Thus, two years after the 2016 election, the Union finalized negotiations which had dragged on for almost ten years with Japan before entering into a series of agreements with Singapore, Vietnam and New Zealand. Today, Europe has the largest free trade system in the world, having concluded around forty treaties.
Part of public opinion, particularly in France, remains opposed to it, seeing it as a threat to agriculture, the environment and the industrial fabric. But American isolationism – which has not been denied during the presidency of Joe Biden, notably with the adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at accelerating the transition
What are the environmental concerns France has expressed about the South American trade deal?
## Trade Deals & Tractor Tyres: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into the murky waters of international trade. Joining me is Dr. Emily Smith, a leading expert in global economics. Emily, thanks for coming on.
**Dr. Smith:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** So, we’ve got this article about, well, “Commerce,” but it’s behind a paywall. Typical. But even from the snippet we have, it sounds like things are getting heated. Angry farmers, squabbles over trade agreements with South America – it’s all a bit of a mess, isn’t it?
**Dr. Smith:** Indeed. International trade is often a complex and sensitive issue. And you’re right, there’s a lot of tension right now. Farmers are facing rising costs, and they’re worried about being undercut by imports under new trade deals.
**Host:** The article mentions France, being their usual dramatic selves, throwing a spanner in the works. What’s their beef with this South American deal?
**Dr. Smith:** France has expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the deal, particularly on agriculture and manufacturing, which they call the “industrial fabric.” They also want to protect European farmers from competition.
**Host:** Sounds like it’s all about who gets the bigger slice of the pie, right?
**Dr. Smith:** To a degree, yes.
Trade deals are often seen as a win-win situation, but there are always winners and losers.
**Host:** And then you’ve got Trump looming over everything, always ready to swoop in and complicate things.
**Dr. Smith:** The global trade landscape is in constant flux. Another trade war or upheaval could dramatically shift the dynamics.
**Host:** So, where does that leave us, Emily?
**Dr. Smith:** It’s a concerning time, to be honest. We need more international cooperation, not less. We need to find ways to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability and social justice. It’s a challenging task, but it’s essential for the future.
**Host:** Wise words, as always, Dr. Smith. Thanks for shedding some light on this complex issue.
**Dr. Smith:** My pleasure.
