Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[crazy canuck]

Did Canada actually confirm a trade deal exists?

Yes an interim deal was announced with a follow up comprehensive deal to come.

What any of that actually means is anyone's guess.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-uk-transitional-trade-agreement-1.5811269?cmp=rss

[Sheilbh]

Yes an interim deal was announced with a follow up comprehensive deal to come.

What any of that actually means is anyone's guess.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-uk-transitional-trade-agreement-1.5811269?cmp=rss

Isn't it just roll-over of CETA until a new agreement is negotiated?

[crazy canuck]

Yes an interim deal was announced with a follow up comprehensive deal to come.

What any of that actually means is anyone's guess.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-uk-transitional-trade-agreement-1.5811269?cmp=rss

Isn't it just roll-over of CETA until a new agreement is negotiated?

That is a very good guess.  But if it is, one wonders why they don't just say that.  They have specifically called it an interim deal which protects Canada's interests.  Ok, thanks for that characterization government, but I would I would like to see the details.

[Richard Hakluyt]

They are talking about cheese again :

"Speaking to reporters on Saturday, International Trade Minister Mary Ng said the interim deal largely replicated the terms under CETA, but she cautioned that the agreement "wasn't simply a matter of copy and paste."

"It will continue to have strong provisions on labour, the environment, on regulatory cooperation, dispute settlement and so forth," she said. "It also protects Canada's supply-managed products, so I want to be very clear that there is no new market access for cheese here in this transition agreement.""

No free market in cheese then 
I find the concept of a protected market in cheese quite horrifying.

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

[The Brain]

They're too nice and non-cutthroat.

[Zanza]

Strong protections? Like a level playing field?

Anyway, a take on the likelihood of a EU/UK deal from British domestic perspective:

[Zanza]

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

The Canadian milk industry cannot compete with the United States and is thus protected.

[Barrister]

They are talking about cheese again :

"Speaking to reporters on Saturday, International Trade Minister Mary Ng said the interim deal largely replicated the terms under CETA, but she cautioned that the agreement "wasn't simply a matter of copy and paste."

"It will continue to have strong provisions on labour, the environment, on regulatory cooperation, dispute settlement and so forth," she said. "It also protects Canada's supply-managed products, so I want to be very clear that there is no new market access for cheese here in this transition agreement.""

No free market in cheese then 
I find the concept of a protected market in cheese quite horrifying.

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

It's our ridiculous "supply management" system for dairy.  We do not have a free market for dairy even within Canada.

Here's an explainer on the topic:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-supply-management-explainer-1.4708341

[HVC]

They are talking about cheese again :

"Speaking to reporters on Saturday, International Trade Minister Mary Ng said the interim deal largely replicated the terms under CETA, but she cautioned that the agreement "wasn't simply a matter of copy and paste."

"It will continue to have strong provisions on labour, the environment, on regulatory cooperation, dispute settlement and so forth," she said. "It also protects Canada's supply-managed products, so I want to be very clear that there is no new market access for cheese here in this transition agreement.""

No free market in cheese then 
I find the concept of a protected market in cheese quite horrifying.

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

Some how the dairy lobby is super powerful.

[Richard Hakluyt]

The tariff is about 245% it seems; so if you want some fancy European cheeses you are buggered unless you are quite wealthy 

I'd be tempted to say "socialism gone mad" but in this case the system is designed to support relatively wealthy dairy farmers.

[HVC]

Just have to get into that first 10% tariff free zone.

Although i winder how they decide which products come in?

[Sheilbh]

Well apparently it doesn't include good cheddar

[Richard Hakluyt]

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

The Canadian milk industry cannot compete with the United States and is thus protected.

Yes, but its easy to protect from US agricultural competition simply by using quality standards.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Well apparently it doesn't include good cheddar

Yes, the sordid truth emerges.... the Canadian Cheddar Illuminati have an iron grip on an oppressed people 

[crazy canuck]

I wonder what the issue is? Are Canada's cheese producers inefficient? That seems unlikely.

The Canadian milk industry cannot compete with the United States and is thus protected.

Back in the 80s there was a move toward dismantling the supply management systems during the free trade talks with the US (leading to the first free trade agreement) but the conservative MPs in supply management farming areas took a beating in that election and governments of both stripes since then have not touched the issue.