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
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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 is the potential impact of trade agreements on agricultural prices and why are farmers concerned?
[@Interviewer]: Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Anya Petrova, Professor of International Trade at the London School of Economics, to discuss the murky waters of global commerce. Dr. Petrova, those farmers seem mighty upset.
[@Dr. Petrova]: They certainly sound frustrated. It seems their concerns revolve around the potential impact of trade agreements on agricultural prices, which is understandable. Agricultural commodities are often heavily influenced by global market fluctuations.
[@Interviewer]: And what about this supposed法国South American trade deal?
[@Dr. Petrova]: This is likely referring to negotiation efforts between the European Union and Mercosur, a trade bloc consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. France, being a member of the EU, would naturally be involved in these discussions.
[@Interviewer]: The commentator seems to suggest that France is the only one “having a go” at this. Could you clarify?
[@Dr. Petrova]: That’s a somewhat simplistic view.
The EU, as a single entity, negotiates trade deals on behalf of its member states. While France may have specific concerns about environmental and agricultural impacts, the negotiations involve representatives from all member countries.
[@Interviewer]: The article mentions “industrial fabric.” What exactly does that mean?
[@Dr. Petrova]:
It likely refers to the overall manufacturing and industrial base of a country, including its workforce, infrastructure, and technological expertise. Concerns about protecting domestic industries from foreign competition are common in trade negotiations.
[@Interviewer]:
And this commentator paints a rather bleak picture of global trade. Is it currently a “circus designed by a Machiavellian accountant,” as they put it?
[@Dr. Petrova]: International trade is certainly complex and multifaceted, with various economic, political, and social interests at play. It’s not always a harmonious process, as different countries prioritize different objectives. While challenges certainly exist, it’s important to remember that trade can also bring about significant benefits: increased economic opportunities, access to goods and services, and technological advancement.
[@Interviewer]:
Gotcha. Thanks for shedding some light on this for us, Dr. Petrova.
