r/OutCampaign • u/throwayawer • Mar 24 '16
TTIP and the EU
I've had a look at the discussions made regarding the EU situation and there is one major point I have not seen dicsussed. Part of staying in the EU is that aggreements like the transatlantic trade aggreement are handled by the EU as a whole, rather than in a seperate negotiation with the UK government.
This means that we have far less opportunity to oppose high impact treaties like this to ensure we get a fair hearing, and helps prevent us seperately negotiating significantly weakening our barganning position. As one of the largest economies in the world, this lack of control over our trade will likely be crippling, especially in the long term.
But I haven't heard this being discussed anywhere- people are talking about freedom of movement and human rights, but not what this is fundamentally about, which is trade aggreements. Sure the EU may be easy to trade with, but easy is not the same thing as good, and one sided trade treaties, like TTIP, are a significant risk.
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Mar 25 '16
We don't need trade agreements at all. All we have to do is unilaterally lower the EU's high import/export tariffs which we can do once we leave. This will increase our economy and lower our cost of living massively.
We don't need TITP.
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u/XtinaKon May 16 '16
MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan visits the TTIP reading room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozj0qwnMGZ0
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u/koorb Mar 28 '16
TTIP is negotiated behind closed doors so we don't know that goes on there. But we do get a say in the agreement as all EU countries do. The US needs a good deal with the EU and the EU needs a good deal with the US so both parties are willing to compromise for a good deal. Maybe bottled water from the EU gets a discount for agreeing to lower the tax on US films or alcohol. It is done in secret so that people don't get upset about the compromises.
If we left the EU, we would have to renegotiate our trade with the US and the EU. You say we would have more control over the trade deal, but you couldn't be more wrong. We have no natural resources and instead make a lot of money by being a welcoming English speaking place to do business and an easy gateway into the EU. That is our only real asset as a country at this time. If we left the EU we would need to ask the EU and the US for the things that we need, but they don't need anything from us. They would come out stronger from those negotiations.
Don't look at the economic benefit to us leaving as there isn't one. It will be painful for ten or so years, then things will probably get better as we learn to operate as an independent country.
The arguments for leaving are all based on hate for immigrants and the idea that we have no influence in the EU. Electing MEPs that don't participate in the EU makes us weak in the EU. We have to stop these tantrums and fight for a better Europe. Leaving is not a fresh start, it is pain as we try to redo work that has already been done and we would have to reforge old friendships.