The Off Topic Topic

[Hamilcar]

Rightly?

I think it could be easily argued that they are wasting time if their profile gets them to give additional screening to a person like myself.

Young, single, man. You're the epitome of high risk.

[The Brain]

Young.

[garbon]

Young.

Black don't cracking, baby.

[garbon]

Rightly?

I think it could be easily argued that they are wasting time if their profile gets them to give additional screening to a person like myself.

Young, single, man. You're the epitome of high risk.

And yet I'm not actually a risk at all. Well maybe a risk for pumping too much money into their economy.

[Maladict]

TTIP has failed – but no one is admitting it, says German Vice Chancellor

Germany's Vice Chancellor said in 14 rounds of talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated




Germany's Vice Chancellor has said free trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States have failed, but "nobody is really admitting it".

Talks over the so-called Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partner, also known as TTIP, have made little progress in recent years.

The 14th round of negotiations between American and EU officials took place in Brussels in July and was the third round in six months.

At the time, the talks were thought to be in trouble with a number of leading European politicians expressing concern about TTIP's effects and the US's reluctance to accept changes to the proposed deal.

Speaking on Sunday, Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Germany's economy minister, said: "In my opinion the negotiations with the United States have de facto failed, even though nobody is really admitting it."

He said that during the talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated.

He further denounced the TTIP negotiations, saying the free trade deal proposed between the EU and Canada – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - was fairer for all parties.

The UK was seen as one of the strongest supporters of TTIP in the EU, so its departure following the Brexit vote would remove one of the US's closest allies in the talks.

Campaigners have warned previously that the UK may end up with "TTIP on steroids" if it does leave the EU.

Campaigners against the controversial TTIP trade deal with the US fear the UK will negotiate an "even more disastrous" agreement after it leaves the European Union.

[garbon]

Why is that a thing to celebrate?

[Habbaku]

Why is that a thing to celebrate?

Seriously.

[Josquius]

TTIP has failed – but no one is admitting it, says German Vice Chancellor

Germany's Vice Chancellor said in 14 rounds of talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated




Germany's Vice Chancellor has said free trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States have failed, but "nobody is really admitting it".

Talks over the so-called Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partner, also known as TTIP, have made little progress in recent years.

The 14th round of negotiations between American and EU officials took place in Brussels in July and was the third round in six months.

At the time, the talks were thought to be in trouble with a number of leading European politicians expressing concern about TTIP's effects and the US's reluctance to accept changes to the proposed deal.

Speaking on Sunday, Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Germany's economy minister, said: "In my opinion the negotiations with the United States have de facto failed, even though nobody is really admitting it."

He said that during the talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated.

He further denounced the TTIP negotiations, saying the free trade deal proposed between the EU and Canada – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - was fairer for all parties.

The UK was seen as one of the strongest supporters of TTIP in the EU, so its departure following the Brexit vote would remove one of the US's closest allies in the talks.

Campaigners have warned previously that the UK may end up with "TTIP on steroids" if it does leave the EU.

Campaigners against the controversial TTIP trade deal with the US fear the UK will negotiate an "even more disastrous" agreement after it leaves the European Union.

Now watch as Britain signs up to a version with all the bad stuff left in.
Well done kippers!

[Valmy]

Why is that a thing to celebrate?

Seriously.

I don't know. It is sad.

[The Brain]

Mercantilism is the way. It is known.

[Maladict]

Why is that a thing to celebrate?

It was never going to work. And even if the negotiations had succeeded some country (ahem) would have launched a referendum and shot it down.
If it ever saw the light of day it would have been a grotesque unwieldy mutation of what it was supposed to be. The sooner it gets buried the better.

[crazy canuck]

Interesting.  Canada may end up being the only nation with trade agreements with both Asia and Europe.

[grumbler]

Interesting.  Canada may end up being the only nation with trade agreements with both Asia and Europe.

Interesting.  Why do you think all the other trade agreements that all the other countries have with countries in both Asia and Europe will be cancelled?

[Sheilbh]

Yeah from what I've read the opposition to a deal with Canada is increasing, especially in Germany (in an election year). So I wouldn't hold your breath.

[Ed Anger]

Canada sucks.