Well, we didn't let NAFTA mutate to meddling in our internal affairs. That's why I mentioned that it is truly just a Trade Act nothing to do with anything else. It is all about tariff free goods and that's all. I don't believe we have a SAFTA though. @shiney, Go ahead, blame it on us. Luckily we came through 2008 and the aftermath fairly decently because I believe our banking laws are much stricter than the ones south of the border which allowed the creation of the junk mortgage market and eventual collapse. And we were grateful for being a little too conservative with our laws. We don't let the U.S. or Mexico define our human rights laws or who is allowed within our borders. And vice versa. We're quite a friendly border. Though we haven't yet figured out how to politely tell them to stop watering down their beer... Hey, next year we're celebrating our 150th anniversary of Dominion. And we became a dominion because we, England and Canada are most wonderfully civilized And this coming Friday, Canada Day, I will be attending my DIL's taking her Oath of Citizenship. I'm so excited
I honestly cant see that there should be any problem. Surely belonging the the EU is purely up to the member countries, if one country decides to leave its up to them. Why should there be animosity between us? Its like a bunch of spoilt kids. And that is on both sides.
So there's this island that the queen is the lord of, it's never been in the EU and the only trade problems they seem to have are a shortage of loo paper now and again. Maybe we should be seeing what they get up to @Sheal
Naaah, pete, it's a bit like Teachers, it tends to catch me in the back of the throat after the third glass.
We, and Business, don't, Pete, but the Politicians do!!! It's all about power and control. You're right the USA hasn't got a trade agreement with the EU but has been "negotiating for A Trade Deal but have, at the moment, a trade deal called TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] which is advantageous to the USA big companies but doesn't appear to be in the interests of workers. India has been "negotiating" FTA [Free Trade Agreement] with the EU for around 9 years but both want the advantage over the other so it's basically stalled.....although, again, trade is still going on as normal!!
Imagine that your missus told you that she had met someone else and wanted a divorce but refused to leave the home (heaven forbid) - how would relations be? Over simplistic maybe but not totally dissimilar. They have a fair point. Gone is the opportunity of a cheaper university in Europe, the opportunity to up bags and try living in a European city whilst they're still young, possibly even making a permanent move (the second two may still be possible but not as an automatic right). In all fairness on this one they were told that remaining in the EU as an independent state was not an automatic option. So they do have a point, the remainder of the UK has changed the structure of what the Scots voted for. Jeeeezz, I hate agreeing with Sturgeon almost as much as I hate agreeing with Cameroon. .................... @Freddy - They could hardly have told us that when "regaining our sovereignty" was one of the main selling points. Unfortunately it is true. Making all EU legislation is null and void is not an option as much of it will need something else in its place. I sort of know what you mean. I was sickened at the TV footage showing a bunch of Brexit supporters celebrating and waving the union jack flag at an open topped bus full of tourists. Same here and it's supposed to be an affluent area. All too often I hear the word Paki used by both people whose privileged upbringing means that they should know better and by people whose upbringing never taught them any different. I've said it before on this forum and been shot down for it but I do think that the British are racist in the majority and not the minority. Rant over - apologies to all. Exactly. And this was one of the lies that Boris told on the last debate when he said that the UK could not trade with the US because the EU does not have a trade deal with them. I nearly smashed my own TV up at that point. The UK will be present but for a part of the summit we will be excluded as it is about us. All other business will see us present.
Cameron showed how spineless he was then. Or so I thought. But then in the ultimate act of spinelessness, what does he do? Sets up a referendum, then runs away right when we need him to deal with the result. Cheers Dave.
With respect, it's entirely different. I don't think Britain ever made pledge of monogamy and never ending love with Europe. I don't think Britain promised to honour Europe with its body and forsake all others. Im pretty sure that if anyone did have sex to celebrate the union, it won't have been an official part of it. And I don't think Britain is now having sex with another international union. One would hope that the Europe is run by professional people.