Brexit, the economy and house prices part 5

Ballard

buglawton wrote: »

Admirably careful wording there. Prior to the outbreak of this trade skirmish, the EU was happily taxing US car imports at 10% while the US was taxing EU cars at just 2.5%. It's this and other (perceived?) unfair arrangements that caused Trump to issue his broadside.

https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/trump-may-point-eu-tariffs-ifo-says-899083
Imports into the US are not quite free, but pay a tariff of only 2.5 percent, compared with the EU tariff of 10 percent on US car imports

You don't appear to have answered my question. Do you think that the US wouldn't have raised import duty on British steel if we weren't part of the EU? Your earlier statement suggests not.

buglawton

Ballard wrote: »

You don't appear to have answered my question. Do you think that the US wouldn't have raised import duty on British steel if we weren't part of the EU? Your earlier statement suggests not.

This can be answered easily. Outside of the EU and the single Market the UK would be free to revise its tariff structure. More along WTO lines. If the UK were to hold onto it's 10% tariff on US cars then Trump could quite fairly include us in his tariff war. Were we sensibly to go to a quid pro quo 2.5% then not.
Right now we don't have the option.

Ballard

buglawton wrote: »

This can be answered easily. Outside of the EU and the single Market the UK would be free to revise its tariff structure. More along WTO lines. If the UK were to hold onto it's 10% tariff on US cars then Trump could quite fairly include us in his tariff war. Were we sensibly to go to a quid pro quo 2.5% then not.
Right now we don't have the option.

I see Trump as a bully playing to his supporters and don’t feel that he would have excluded us from the raise but I recognise your right to trust him.

buglawton

Don’t twist yourself into a knot about it.

Thrugelmir

Ballard wrote: »

I see Trump as a bully playing to his supporters and don’t feel that he would have excluded us from the raise but I recognise your right to trust him.

Trump is a breathe of fresh air. Total maverick. Nor is he playing. The threat presented by China shouldn't be underestimated.

Herzlos

Trump is by all counts incompetent.

Ballard

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Trump is a breathe of fresh air. Total maverick. Nor is he playing. The threat presented by China shouldn't be underestimated.

That’s one way of looking at it. Another is to say that he’s a man who lies and bullies his was through his presidency.

.string.

The above discussion illustrates one factor of the difficulty of coming up with a statement of intent from the UK Government about our desired future relationship with the EU. No wonder if it's taking so long.

One would hope that the upcoming statement would have enough European-friendly content to solicit a more UK-friendly reaction from the EU.

The problem is that the way the EU have been conducting the negotiations is causing, I sense, a growing hostility in the UK and rather than having a friendly neighbour, the EU may end up with as Grumpy competitor with a rapidly reducing incentive to support EU economic success.

So how to make a statement on our wishes for a new relationship that is on the one hand friendly but on the other doesn't tie us to an attitude that we don't have any more?

But the Government has to keep smiling at the EU for a while longer, but I don't have to do that.

For one small example, because of the on-going Irish Border blackmail, I have become more aware of the Irish products i would avoid and am starting to do just that. French wine? Well Antipodean wine is very good and is reasonably priced

Where things are made has become more important.

kabayiri

Ballard wrote: »

That’s one way of looking at it. Another is to say that he’s a man who lies and bullies his was through his presidency.

He understands a particular tactical approach to negotiations. Ultimately, he will be judged on his results by the American voters, not on his niceties.

Look at his global opponents. Do you really think the Chinese premier is a nice individual?

Do you think Juncker likes Trump or May for that matter?

I just want a winner, not a beauty contest champion.

kabayiri

.string. wrote: »

...
For one small example, because of the on-going Irish Border blackmail, I have become more aware of the Irish products i would avoid and am starting to do just that. French wine? Well Antipodean wine is very good and is reasonably priced

Where things are made has become more important.

We spent serious money on a German motor, but I sense it might be the last. It's not like there is a lack of alternatives.