EU and Japan complete free trade deal

[heatcharger]

Link.

I hope all the Honda and Toyota plant workers in Britain who probably voted Leave are happy.

[Sozialliberal]

The European Commission still hasn't learnt from TTIP and CETA. There is absolutely no transparency. At best, the public learns about details of the agreement from leaked documents, which is unsatisfactory. It looks like JEFTA will include the introduction of private arbitration courts, which is a step back from the state investment courts in CETA. However, both types of courts are superfluous and, in my view, a threat to democracy. It must not be possible that a company can sue a state because a law of that state reduces the company's profits. I think free trade in general is a good thing, but the public has to be adequately informed and their will has to be respected. Have the people of the EU or Japan ever been asked if they even want this agreement? No, they have not. This is purely a project of elites who are out of touch with the common people. They're undermining democracy.

[Santander]

True free trade doesn't need an agreement.

[mvd10]

Thanks EU! This deal could actually affect the economy more than TTIP, but it got much less attention.

[Diouf]

Great news with another ambitious free trade agreement, hopefully the ratification process will be smoother than with CETA. A similar agreement with South Korea has proven a huge success as the EU's exports to South Korea have increased by 55%, from 30.6 billion EUR to 47.3 billion EUR in five years. Juncker was quite clear in his election campaign that he would pursue trade agreements, even with the US, and luckily most of the main stream parties in the EU are still in favour of these agreements, so it can hardly be a surprise for anybody that this is being pursued. It is a very good sign that the EU, even in a time with so much talk about anti-globalization and populism, continue to pursue those policies that bring jobs and growth. Most of the globalization-opposition is towards non-western immigration, which is where the EU needs to make changes. Most people are in favour of these mutually beneficial trade agreements like this one.

[DavidB.]

Most of the globalization-opposition is towards non-western immigration, which is where the EU needs to make changes. Most people are in favour of these mutually beneficial trade agreements like this one.

Exactly. Continue to pursue pro-trade policies, end non-Western immigration and improve conditions for those who don't benefit as much from globalization.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I hope all the Honda and Toyota plant workers in Britain who probably voted Leave are happy.

Those firms are active here, but the the main Japanese industrial concern in the UK is Nissan. Anyway, such an american_democratic_party.txt reaction there...

[Zinneke]

True free trade doesn't need an agreement.

Elaborate? Ever heard of non-tarriff barriers?

[Sozialliberal]

Most people are in favour of these mutually beneficial trade agreements like this one.

How do we know if these agreements are really beneficial if we're not allowed to read them?

The Eurobarometer polls on TTIP indicated substantial opposition in the EU, particularly in Germany, France, Austria, Luxembourg and Slovenia.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Arbitration courts are unacceptable. Someone must sink this.

[Santander]

Arbitration courts are unacceptable. Someone must sink this.

Do you have the same attitude towards Sharia arbitration courts in Europe?

[heatcharger]

I hope all the Honda and Toyota plant workers in Britain who probably voted Leave are happy.

Those firms are active here, but the the main Japanese industrial concern in the UK is Nissan. Anyway, such an american_democratic_party.txt reaction there...

Okay, that doesn't change the salience of my point at all. Nissan was already considering layoffs in Sunderland before this deal, and now I see no reason why they won't pack up shop and move those jobs safely into the tariff-free EU borders.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Arbitration courts are unacceptable. Someone must sink this.

Do you have the same attitude towards Sharia arbitration courts in Europe?

Absolutely, yes.

[Vosem]

Great. Objectively terrific news, basically.

[Cashew]

Arbitration courts are unacceptable. Someone must sink this.