Aw, what a crying shame: No TPP deal at Singapore meeting

[cali]

An ambitious 12-nation free trade plan, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has hit a new roadblock after four days of negotiations in Singapore.

Sticking points over market access and differences over tariffs on imported goods were the main reasons cited.

<snip>

But differences on the issues of tariffs on imported goods, particularly between the US and Japan, are becoming difficult to overcome.

Agricultural tariffs have become a bone of contention for Japan, which is trying to protect its rice, wheat, beef and pork as well as dairy and sugar from outside competition.

<snip>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26334651

[JoePhilly]

1. Does this mean that TPTB don't actually control everything?

I mean, we're regularly told that The Powers That Be are in total control. They run everything.

Is that not correct?

Which country is fighting them ... Japan?

[daleanime]

2. TPTB(Japanese chapter) are having a slight disagreement....

with the TPTB(American chapter). That doesn't mean they don't agree on how to deal with the rest of us.

[JoePhilly]

5. Interesting ...

So your view is that TPTB is not one group, but a set of groups, organized by nation.

I was under the impression that they were basically "stateless" ... kind of like global citizens who are so rich, they can live anywhere on the planet, own business anywhere on the planet, and so concerns of "National Interest" don't really apply.

[WhiteTara]

9. Those are our universal overlords. nt

[daleanime]

11. Nothing so formal....

but each member does have own interest, although they overlap for the most part.

[cali]

3. Seeing as I rail against that meaningless phrase "the powers that be"

as it's vague and too conspiratorial, your question to me is ridiculous. bzzzt. fail, my dear friend.

[JoePhilly]

4. TPTB, or the 1% ... folks on DU tend to believe that ...

... there is a group who always gets what it wants.

I'm curious as to how folks on DU see it.

Your OP simply provided an opportunity to put the question before them.

So I did.

Dear.

[cali]

6. you directed your question to me, my dear friend.

and I answered you.

[JoePhilly]

8. Actually, I directed it to anyone reading your OP ...

including you.

That's kind of how forums work.

[WinkyDink]

7. Let the Japanese eat their own food.

[jsr]

10. Very sad, indeed