Mark Wadsworth: Peter Lilley debunks “free trade deals”.
Governments don’t trade goods and services. Companies and
individuals do and governments get – more or less, according to
how economically idiotic they are – in the way. Most “trade
deals” are to remove tariffs created by governments in the first
place. The other kind of “trade deal” is the symbolic nonsense
flourished at international summits so that the politicians
can pretend that they have “done
something” about job creation. “Trade deals” only make trade
easier when the governments concerned made it harder in the first
place.
individuals do and governments get – more or less, according to
how economically idiotic they are – in the way. Most “trade
deals” are to remove tariffs created by governments in the first
place. The other kind of “trade deal” is the symbolic nonsense
flourished at international summits so that the politicians
can pretend that they have “done
something” about job creation. “Trade deals” only make trade
easier when the governments concerned made it harder in the first
place.
All governments really trade is insults,
ordnance and corrupt advantages for politicians.
ordnance and corrupt advantages for politicians.
All of this idiotic talk about being on the inside when making
trade “rules” is therefore so much political blather. The main
“rule” that matters is the law of supply and demand. I
will buy Italian cars if they suit my needs better than German or
British cars at the price point I can afford. I have bought all
three kinds – and even a disastrous French one – in my
time, according to my perceived needs at each stage of my life.
trade “rules” is therefore so much political blather. The main
“rule” that matters is the law of supply and demand. I
will buy Italian cars if they suit my needs better than German or
British cars at the price point I can afford. I have bought all
three kinds – and even a disastrous French one – in my
time, according to my perceived needs at each stage of my life.
Sure, governments can make protectionist rules to prevent or
dissuade me from spending my money as I choose, but then another
rule that really matters – the law of unintended
consequences – will make the cars they want me to buy
progressively less attractive in direct proportion to the extent
that government protects their manufacturers from
competition. I am pretty sure protectionism is what made the
French chapter of my car history such a disaster.
dissuade me from spending my money as I choose, but then another
rule that really matters – the law of unintended
consequences – will make the cars they want me to buy
progressively less attractive in direct proportion to the extent
that government protects their manufacturers from
competition. I am pretty sure protectionism is what made the
French chapter of my car history such a disaster.
As Peter Lilley is quoted as saying in the linked post by Mark
Wadsworth;
Wadsworth;
“Britain set the
rules of tennis but rarely wins Wimbledon. British exports to
the EU have grown less rapidly since the Single Market than
they did before, less than our partners’ and much less than
non-EU countries’ exports! Maybe that is partly because we
suffer EU regulations on 100 per cent of our companies whereas
non-EU firms need only comply with EU regulations on activities
carried out within the EU.”
Quite. So enough already with the “trade deals” crap.
I respectfully suggest you don’t allow all the hot air
about them to influence your vote in the Referendum. And if
you can’t name all of the EU’s Presidents without recourse to
Google and explain precisely how to get rid of
the rascals if you are dissatisfied with them, then I
respectfully suggest you are not morally entitled to
vote “Remain”.
I respectfully suggest you don’t allow all the hot air
about them to influence your vote in the Referendum. And if
you can’t name all of the EU’s Presidents without recourse to
Google and explain precisely how to get rid of
the rascals if you are dissatisfied with them, then I
respectfully suggest you are not morally entitled to
vote “Remain”.
The Last Ditch by Tom Paine 
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