CETA stalled for now

[grassfarmer]

Anyone else find it odd 500 million people in countries approved it, save for one little region who i am sure most of us have never heard about?

More to this story then the NFU has put on their website.

Actually the 500 million were never asked, just the same as the 36 million here in Canada weren't asked whether they are for or against it. There have been tens of thousands in the streets of various European cities in recent months protesting against CETA. Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia aren't ready to sign on to it either although I believe that has more to do with them wanting a better deal on visas with Canada.

Please tell us the rest of the story that the NFU missed.

[tweety]

I don't know, just asking. Just seems odd, like most trade deals lately esp like TPP, there is such a hostility against trade.

[grassfarmer]

I don't know, just asking

Ahhhh...

Just seems odd, like most trade deals lately esp like TPP, there is such a hostility against trade.

I don't think the hostility is against trade so much as its against the nature of these agreements. Nobody is against reducing trade tariffs but that is not what these are about. It's about a transfer of power from the people, local, provincial and national Governments to mega transnational corporations. It threatens our rights and our sovereignty and people have finally had enough of it.

[Hopalong]

Had some involvement with trade negotiations through farmer groups.
Transnational corporations generally favoured free trade and open borders since it allowed them to source things they produced or traded in most advantaged areas for them to make a profit.
Local producers were often the most protectionist in asking for tariffs and subsidies to allow them to compete with imports.
Consumers in importing countries and producers in exporting ones gained from trade.
Hard to convince politicians in importing countries since producers in their areas were allowed to vote for them and ones in exporting ones were not. Consumers on the reverse side of the equation were less active in lobbying efforts.
Do not think transnational entities are all bad.

[tweety]

Ahhhh...
Nobody is against reducing trade tariffs but that is not what these are about.

Well apparently Wallonia is very protective. Shut the whole thing down with Veto power. Its not so much doing what they believe in, its they can have 0.1% of the pie, yet prevent 100% from having it.

[mcfarms]

That countries just been nothing but trouble ever since Anne Hathaway took over from Julie Andrews as queen, next thing you know Grand Fenwick will be acting up again. (See if anyone gets that one without google)

[burnt]

That countries just been nothing but trouble ever since Anne Hathaway took over from Julie Andrews as queen, next thing you know Grand Fenwick will be acting up again. (See if anyone gets that one without google)

That was priceless.

But it's darn bad when reality mirrors fiction and the course of a country, or worse yet, the world, is determined by Grand Fenwicks.

Which it is.