(09-06-2016 11:55 )bigglesworth Wrote: Michael Froman, the US trade representative, recently said this:
"The US is not keen on pursuing a separate free trade deal with Britain if it leaves the EU, as we’re not particularly in the market for FTAs with individual countries. I think it’s absolutely clear that Britain has a greater voice at the trade table being part of the EU, being part of a larger economic entity, and that EU membership gives Britain more leverage in negotiations."
Can people please stop using US propaganda and black mail, the US is not part of the EU and they trade with it, they have nothing whatsoever to do with British and European politics, can you imagine any other country in the world trying to pressure the US into doing something?
Busineses in these countries will not suddenly stop tradig with Britian, especially when the trade is already there, UNLESS, the rest of Europe make it very very difficult. The US is not the be all and end all of everything, and from what I have heard is pretty much in decline as the worlds super power.
Quote:It's worth adding to the above that the EU, by speaking with a single voice and with a huge combined population, carries considerably more weight in international trade negotiations than any of its individual members such as the UK could manage by themselves.
That's a smoke screen, Britian will not have as much power has you might think if in europe. This would all depend on whetherr trade agreements require ALL to agree or a MAJORITY agree to be passed; Britian could vehemently disagree with a with each andf every trade agreement proposed and vote against it, but if the majority of Europe agree Britian can go wistle dixie and have to impliment every single one.
As I have said before, Europe is made of vastly differing cultures, languages, and histories. The demands will be very different in each country, and all will push for what's best for them (look how the french farmers treat british products if they don't get their way), it is not like the US or Canada, were from east coast to west, despite the cultral mix it's pretty much one thing, ironically, very much like a UK based country.
One of the biggest problems being, nobody seems to know exactly what all these trade negotiations are in detail, everybody is saying bad for trade, bad for trade agreements, and not so bad, but nobody is saying exactly what these trade agreements are.