Tariffs and Possession

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/News/233265/tariffs-and-possession/



The European Commission wants to keep the issue of free trade with the U.S. out of the election campaigns. Things are difficult enough for Europe. Yet, the agreement could be economically quite sensible.

Tariffs and Possession
Berliner Zeitung, Germany
By Peter Riesbeck
Translated By Daniel Eck
17 February 2014
Edited by Gillian Palmer

Discussions will start this week on an informal level. EU Commissioner Karel De Gucht is discussing a free trade zone with U.S. representative Michael Forman. At the same time, the first successful citizen initiative that opposes the liberalization of the water market will take place in the European Parliament. The intended liberalization has long been abandoned, but it gives us a valuable lesson in relation to the free market: It is difficult to fight emotions with numbers only.

Not least because of the transatlantic relations that were invoked at the beginning of the free market discussions with the U.S. EU Chief Commissioner José Manuel Barroso spoke about a win-win situation, but he was also honest enough to outline the weaknesses of the partners. “Both of us need growth. Both of us have budgetary problems.” It appears to be more like an agreement between staggering giants.

What makes things more difficult is that shortly after the start of negotiations, the National Security Agency affair came to light. Although eavesdropping on friends is generally regarded as inappropriate, it still happens. The European Parliament concluded that the spying activities were also conducted on businesses. These do not look like good premises for the transatlantic image.

It is likely that simple trade is overrated for fostering good relations. What happened to the culture, human encounters and the constantly quoted common values? Does one like America because of the common exhaust pipes or because of its way of life and Hollywood? Even though the EU also trades with China, the U.S. is beloved for more than just its trading power and is despised for more than just the NSA.