Current Affairs EU In or Out

[peteblue]

We're right at home! Strength in numbers etc.

I'm not sure that's what Pete meant, like

I’m happy to be classed with Japan…..so with the U.K. joining that means the two biggest economies in the CPTPP combined are bigger than the two biggest EU countries combined. Or did Bruce not mean that…..

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

I’m happy to be classed with Japan…..so with the U.K. joining that means the two biggest economies in the CPTPP combined are bigger than the two biggest EU countries combined. Or did Bruce not mean that…..

Even in the EU the UK felt it when China and the US in particular sneezed, so to speak.

And we are a second tier nation. Any other view of ourselves is delusional. That's not a bad thing, we have influence, but it's not like the days of empire...

 

[peteblue]

Even in the EU the UK felt it when China and the US in particular sneezed, so to speak.

And we are a second tier nation. Any other view of ourselves is delusional. That's not a bad thing, we have influence, but it's not like the days of empire...

I like being a second tier nation. We are a small island country with a GDP similar to India but with 1/20th of the population.….

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Even in the EU the UK felt it when China and the US in particular sneezed, so to speak.

And we are a second tier nation. Any other view of ourselves is delusional. That's not a bad thing, we have influence, but it's not like the days of empire...

I thought we were talking about geopolitical influence here as well? I mean the EU has geopolitical influence precisely because the 27 members, plus a few extras, actively work together, hence they set the regulatory agenda for much of global commerce. We're outside that now, and this club doesn't have the economic clout of the EU, either due to its limited size or the geographic proximity issue that gets "repeatedly" ignored, and it certainly lacks the economic clout of the US or China.

There may well be an argument for the Pacific region being the next growth engine, but the reality is that this means China, which is obviously not part of this club. This is reflected in Australia's trade with the region, which is $123bn with the ASEAN region, $88bn with Japan, and $235bn with China. Obviously more trade is more trade, but given we already had trade deals with Japan and is negotiating one with Australia (and the UK has one already), then it's not immediately clear just what this brings us apart from some tub thumping and flag waving from the usual suspects.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

I thought we were talking about geopolitical influence here as well? I mean the EU has geopolitical influence precisely because the 27 members, plus a few extras, actively work together, hence they set the regulatory agenda for much of global commerce. We're outside that now, and this club doesn't have the economic clout of the EU, either due to its limited size or the geographic proximity issue that gets "repeatedly" ignored, and it certainly lacks the economic clout of the US or China.

There may well be an argument for the Pacific region being the next growth engine, but the reality is that this means China, which is obviously not part of this club. This is reflected in Australia's trade with the region, which is $123bn with the ASEAN region, $88bn with Japan, and $235bn with China. Obviously more trade is more trade, but given we already had trade deals with Japan and is negotiating one with Australia (and the UK has one already), then it's not immediately clear just what this brings us apart from some tub thumping and flag waving from the usual suspects.

Are you and Pete not on speaking terms? I feel like a proxy here

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Are you and Pete not on speaking terms? I feel like a proxy here

Tell him he smells of elderberries.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Tell him he smells of elderberries.

@peteblue I'd chin him for that

 

[roydo]

@peteblue I'd chin him for that

Cant. In a queue at Dover.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Cant. In a queue at Dover.

It's a beautiful British queue though.

 

[peteblue]

@peteblue I'd chin him for that

Tell him I’ve let his tyres down….

 

[peteblue]

It's a beautiful British queue though.

Orderly……it’ll be chaos on the other side….

 

[Rita_Poon]

Give it 87 minutes...

 

[peteblue]

Are you and Pete not on speaking terms? I feel like a proxy here

In a moment of madness Bruce, who I have the utmost respect for, pressed the ignore button. You are doing the Lords work here……

 

[Rita_Poon]

disgraced lord peter cruddas

 

[peteblue]

I thought we were talking about geopolitical influence here as well? I mean the EU has geopolitical influence precisely because the 27 members, plus a few extras, actively work together, hence they set the regulatory agenda for much of global commerce. We're outside that now, and this club doesn't have the economic clout of the EU, either due to its limited size or the geographic proximity issue that gets "repeatedly" ignored, and it certainly lacks the economic clout of the US or China.

There may well be an argument for the Pacific region being the next growth engine, but the reality is that this means China, which is obviously not part of this club. This is reflected in Australia's trade with the region, which is $123bn with the ASEAN region, $88bn with Japan, and $235bn with China. Obviously more trade is more trade, but given we already had trade deals with Japan and is negotiating one with Australia (and the UK has one already), then it's not immediately clear just what this brings us apart from some tub thumping and flag waving from the usual suspects.

The Eu is far more established than the CPTPP and of course geographically we are outliers, that is obvious. China has asked to join and the USA will undoubtedly go back into the fold just to keep China out. Many more countries are seeking to join, even the EU has been rumoured, and we will now have a veto. Those wishing to join do not have to join a common currency nor a Political union, nor have laws dictated by bureaucrats in another country, it’s all about trade. As I say the CPTPP will be bigger than the EU when we formally join in mid 2023 and will grow enormously when the rest of South America and Asia seek to join. As a trade bloc it’s the future, it will become the de facto WTO replacement and we will be a key part of it…..