A lesson fron Doha on "free" trade

[eridani]

Well whaddya know? If you restrict "trade" talks to simple matters that actually have to do with trade as it exists in the real world, like getting rid of unnecessary bureaucracy, a large number of countries can conclude a successful agreement. Too bad that The Economist is still sad that "trade" agreements which are mostly about establishing absolute corporate dictatorship over democratically elected governments is still a no-go.

Flesh and blood people whose only relationship with others is how they can exploit other people for their own profit are commonly known as sociopaths. Corporate "persons" are therefore sociopaths by definition. This is not to say that they aren't useful--just that their tendencies toward sociopathology need to be restrained by democratically elected governments.

http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21591625-global-trade-talks-yield-deal-first-time-almost-20-years-unaccustomed

The deal was the first success of the “Doha round”, an effort initiated in 2001 to bring down tariffs and various other trade barriers, which has come close to collapse several times over the years. When trade officials resuscitated talks last year they opted to keep the agenda as simple and attractive as possible. They dropped intractable topics such as intellectual property and trade in services, to concentrate on humbler ones such as “trade facilitation”—an attempt to cut red tape in customs.

<snip>

The trade-facilitation measures agreed in Bali could cut the cost of shipping goods around the world by more than 10%, by one estimate, raising global output by over $400 billion a year, with benefits flowing disproportionately to poorer countries. They nonetheless proved contentious. Some countries raised concerns about their ability to pay for the required improvements to their customs procedures, and talks briefly stalled as arrangements for assistance were worked out.

Might need a subscription to see the whole article. The above is a LTE that I just sent.

[westerebus]

1. Some possible equivalents of the Doha conferencing.

Sending the children to private school in Switzerland as a savings on nanny costs.

Attending the Queen's birthday party in support of good governance.

Purchasing a yacht with solar panels to reduce global emissions.

Electing anyone from an Ivy League university running as a populist.

Mitt Romney.