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A GREENPEACE LEAK early this week brought the EU-US free-trade deal, otherwise known as TTIP, firmly back into the spotlight.
Those behind the proposed trade agreement, understandably abbreviated from its long-winded title of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, optimistically hoped their talks could be over by the end of 2014.
Three years on, however, it appears the party could be over before it started. The Greenpeace disclosure has given interested observers a detailed insight into what has been going on behind closed doors, highlighting some of the issues the EU and US are at loggerheads over.
Two-thirds of the TTIP draft text from the latest round of talks in April is contained in the cache of documents leaked by the environmental organisation.
Greenpeace has argued that the files, which focus on sectors from telecoms to agriculture, show the deal was about “a huge transfer of power from people to big business” that could have “far-reaching implications for the environment”.
In response, EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said the documents simply reflect a difference of opinion that all parties are trying to work out.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are areas where the EU and the US have different views. It begs to be said, again and again: no EU trade agreement will ever lower our level of protection of consumers, or food safety, or of the environment,” she said.
What is TTIP?
Even though it is a trade agreement, TTIP is not only about reducing tariffs. To an even greater extent, it’s about standardising regulations around food safety, pharmaceuticals, energy, textiles and other industries to streamline business between the world’s two largest economies.
For example, the EU and US don’t currently trade oysters because they have different standards for proving the molluscs are fit for consumption. The US tests the oysters’ water for bacteria, while the EU tests each oyster for bacteria.
One of the stated aims of TTIP is to standardise these sort of regulations to open up markets to more products.
What’s the problem?
In principle, standardising regulations might sound like a good idea. However there are several reasons why that and other sticking points have stopped a deal being thrashed out already.
Firstly, harmonising regulations can be costly and, to put it simply, both sides think their way is best. This has led to what the leaked documents highlighted as “irreconcilable” differences between both parties around issues like animal testing for cosmetics, which is banned in the EU, and environmental protection.
Multinationals and business lobby groups have been heavily in favour of TTIP, however many governments and other organisations are sceptical that a deal could open up previously public services such as healthcare, education and transport to privatisation.
Thirdly, a lot of people are wary of one of the proposed treaty’s most controversial inclusions, the so-called Investor State Dispute Settlements.
The provision gives corporations the power to sue governments for lost profits over unfavourable laws, as exemplified when tobacco giant Philip Morris brought a claim against Australia after the country brought in plain cigarette packaging.
Where does this leave us?
Due to the Byzantine details involved, trade negotiations are notoriously long running and difficult to get over the line – irrespective of their merits.
Talks around one of the largest agreements, which led to the World Trade Organisation being set up in 1994, lasted a full seven years.
The US are eager to trash out a deal before the end of Barack Obama’s presidency in early 2017 but with powerful EU states like France increasingly set against the treaty that deadline is looking shaky.
Written by Killian Woods and originally published on Fora, a new business publication for Irish startups and SMEs.
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I still remember my first day of school, clinging to my mothers leg and balling my eyes out. I wasn’t cut out to be a teacher.
What toy did you get?
Did your mother collect you after? I would have been in bits.
@pt pat. Top gag. genuine Lols are rare
Wonder did he get the free carton of milk and the currant bun?
Poor guy, he could just be another son of another upper class English millionaire spending his time between Switzerland, Nice, New York and LA. Instead he is born into a life of service to the British media albeit quite a bit of privilege.
He could have also being born on a halting site
You Irish secretly love our Royal family !
You British secretly love our IRA.
Yes we love the old bitch
Only the stupid among us. The same class of people who read tabloids and glossy magazines
Who doesn’t? In this world of IS what the Brits wouldn’t do for good old decent terrorists like the IRA
I’m not too fond of Andrew. Strange chap.
Plant a device and then a warning phone call before detonation, the IRA were ‘gentleman bombers’
Nonce Ned de Turd is the real black sheep in that regal genomic cesspool!
Top stuff dave
No. We don’t. Maybe a certain section do but I would bet the deeds to the farm that the vast majority of us are at best indifferent to a family of privileged inbreeds.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
That made me smile.
Alleged rapist you mean.
I never understood the phrase “Cult of Personality” until I lived in London for a few years.
The British are so obsessed with the “Royals” they make the personality cult of Hitler or Stalin or Kim Jong Un seem tame.
I can’t imagine an Irish person saying “God Save Michael D. Higgins” but just a few days ago a British astronaut shouted “God Save the Queen” from the International Space Station.
.
They are every bit as obsessed with their Royal Family as American rednecks are obsessed with their guns.
Weird.
It’s because the Brits aren’t as religious as we are/were. For some reason human beings seem to feel the need to look up to someone supposedly better than themselves, weird
Isn’t the queen of England the head of the church of England?
Stephen why would anyone look up to a member of a royal family? They are a crowd of leeches who have done nothing except are lucky to be born into the right family and think they are automatically better than everyone else. A history of royals in Europe shows they were mostly cousins who were interbreeding. Pack of inbreds, the lot if them! By the way I despise all totals, not just the German ones across the water.
*royals not totals
Exactly pjm! At least when they were autocrats like Henry VIII they meant something, but it’s strange that we continue to fixate on these people, who seem perfectly nice and are probably a bit embarrassed by the idolatry they inspire
“Whos this we tonto?”. Actually the only people who seem to fixate on the royal family are the ones that seem to be the ones that have all the up to date info and seem to follow them around all the time. Now thats saying something.
That’s cheap at €7.50 south co Dublin circa €8 – €9
Just thought that.
I don’t know….was expecting something along the lines of 200 an hour.
Maybe he gets a special discount .
It’s all about optics these days and Prince Willie seems to be really good at that sort of thing.
Didn’t bother reading the article but is he a Kardashian??
Probably should read the article, it’ll answer your question.
Really?? Lost on you so, I’ll get my coat
Don’t know but seeing he is a 2 year old maybe give him a bit of slack?
Put your coat back on John , I got it !
John Quigley. Ha ha. Good one
Spelling is clearly optional in this article.
Avery artucle
I get jokes
It is absolutely disgusting that monarchy still exists in the 21st century. Incredibly inbred parasites with bloodstained family histories who are immune from the law and got to the top by stealing from and inflicting misery on people.
Yeah but oddly the British public seem to like them. Riddle me that…
Is that language really necessary when referring to an innocent two year old boy
It seems to work well for the British. The current monarch is probably the best they’ve had in hundreds of years, she knows her place and what her responsibilities entail. I’m not so sure about Charles, I can see him clashing with the govt.
1% of the world control 99% of the resources, the royal family are just over of the many smoke screens.
He wasn’t referring to the child, it’s a fair point
I like Charles though, the black spider letters are deadly
Why does it bother you? It has nothing to do with you or your lineage. They didnt inflict anything on you or your family. In fact a certain family from tbe usa, initial k, have probably cost you more in the wallet, and exceptionally more in family values than you will ever realise.
You can dislike the concept of monarchy without disliking the people, Jenni
Absolutely a very good point stephen..but there is no need for the vitreol. The 3rd in line and indeed tge 2nd seem like normal people to me. And as I have said previously, it makes no difference to our country whatever happens in another country. If they want a monarchy..so what.
It is a bit absurd though, isn;t it Jenni, our human need to put people just like ourselves on a pedestal for no reason. We all came out of the womb the same way
But stephen..we dont. They do that in the UK and other places. We dont put any of our leaders on any pedestal. So why are we arguing?
Our leaders, bad as they are, have done something to claim that title. My problem is with the concept of somebody from birth being seen as innately of higher status than everybody else, and being entitled to all the pomp and circumstance that that involves.. I just don’t get it
And again..why does it bother you? We dont do it in our own country? Why is something thats happens in another country bother you? I just dont get it.
You’re right Jenni it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. My motto is you’re better than nobody, and nobody is better than you. The idea of giving someone a crown because they;re vaguely related to someone who claimed to be told by God that they were a leader of men, I find ridiculous
Of course we do it here. Not with royals but with pointless, no talent z list ‘celebrities’
jenni, in fact you would be surprised at the amount of Irish families have a genetic link to the British royal family. Probably more so than the British themselves.
It says school in the headline but the story says it’s a nursery?
He’s too young for big school so it’s nursery
Some negative comments from negative people. Republican types never ever make positive contributions. Negativity and destruction and death is their reason for living.
Tap , did we miss your positive comment on this article ?
Tap. …which part of republic of Ireland did you miss?
Actually I think its nice his mom posted the photo. This lovely lad has no idea what his future holds, but his mum and dad did what we all do..roll up take pics and show them off. Nothing wrong with that.
Why would any right minded person have something positive to say about royals? You’re one of those peasant types that reads red tops and fawns over pictures of your dear high and mighty masters, you pathetic obsessed clown!
They are not my masters pjm..stop being so political. Its a nice photo of a kid going to school on his first day. We all do it, and we all send pics. I dont believe his mum or dad have any political agenda, they have a role and they are playing it. I dont hear you giving out about all the other royal families in europe..and some of them are far worse. As far as kate and her now royal family are concerned, its a busy mum at work, he’s going to kindergarden normal way to bring up kids kind of thing. Millions of us mums do it.
Jenni do I have to look at pictures of other European royals on the Journal, no I don’t and if I did I would comment negatively on the too.To me all monarchs are leeches and the idea of someone being a “royal” and better than others because of nothing else but who their family is when they are born is quite frankly ridiculous in the 21st century.
But why does it bother you what another country does? If thats what they want to do so what? It doesn’t affect us.
No answer to that then..
Jenni you’re not the brightest spark are you? Can you not read my previous post. I have an issue with monarchy in general and also articles appearing in Irish media about the royal family of another country. Pure tabloid muck that has no relevance in Ireland.
Well then its you that has the problem. You see, your issue is with people that think they are or have been made important/vip whatever. I’m not any of those, in fact I am quite quiet. And I would not have commented except Kate seems quite normal, and shes bringing her kids up really well. We all dont have that spotlight on us everyda
Less of the mum please jenni.
Our nation was founded on negativity
We will never be free until the last king has been strangled with the entrails of the last bishop.
Like eliminating the czars in Russia , then replaced with communism lol
I think most of us are bothered having it reported in Irish media.
I’d also like to refute your claim that his line have no effect on my lineage.
If you go back a few decades even you will find your statement to be grossly inaccurate. Shame on you. In this the centenary of the Easter Rising.
Read a few history books why don’t you!!
Does the child have a right to any privacy? Genuine question. Does royalty mean the loss of right to privacy for children? Is it prudent and appropriate to publicise this information?
It’s probably best for them to post a photo first though .
Apparently his mother took the pictures…..
She did indeed take the two photos Chris
The parents took the photos and the palace released them officially, probably to head off the paparazzi. In this case is say that’s a good idea, considering he’s been stalked at playgrounds. And that is a horrible thing that should be illegal.
Oh course he looks delighted. He knows he’s third in line to the throne. Handy life ahead.
It’s actually not a handy life though, compared to what the could do if he was left alone.
In reality I agree Ron. I was trying to be facetious. The intrusion the royals get is phenomenal. It might be a privileged life but there’s too much hassle that seems to come with the life.
Who gives a fcuk
slow news day..a young lad goes to school
Why put this crap up. Why do we give a feck
Honestly, who cares?
Where’s Britian journal spellcheckers?
They’re having a discussion on how best to spell Britain. :p
Sorry but I don’t dislike this child but why is his spoilt upbringing being reported on an Irish site? ?…..we have lots of lovely kids here that are normal no silver spoon in the mouth types that could be feel good stories
Am very shocked
No silver spoons lol , these the same kids that got Xbox ones and ps4 off Santa , you would swear us were living in Syria u mutant
Is thejournal.ie run by fine Gael west Brits? Who cares about this
Shut up u tw@t , he’s only a kid
Only a matter of time before he stumbles out drunk
Best of luck little guy
He looks adorable although considering who he is I think it is dangerous to realise the name of the nursery. The less known about his daily routine the better due to the terrorist threat.
Who’s gonna bully him?
I’d say he has his own bodyguard with him !
Really the journal.ie? Really?? I thought we abandoned this kind of thing. Royals seriously outdated and thankfully no longer have a place in Ireland. Some real news please
I’ll leave the words of James Connolly here: What is monarchy? From whence does it derive its sanction? What has been its gift to humanity? Monarchy is a survival of the tyranny imposed by the hand of greed and treachery upon the human race in the darkest and most ignorant days of our history. It derives its only sanction from the sword of the marauder, and the helplessness of the producer, and its gifts to humanity are unknown, save as they can be measured in the pernicious examples of triumphant and shameless iniquities.
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