Westminstenders: Run Forrest Run

[RedToothBrush]

Need i say more?

Peregrina
Indeed. The art art of filling in tax returns is knowing how much stays blank

The tariff on the other hand .....
This page is about Vinegar
www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/2209

Here is a nice simple wine tariff code
www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/2204229895

US FTA

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/SummaryoffU.S.-UKNegotiatinggObjectives.pdf

As of 2015, USTR [United States Trade Representatives] are bound by Congress not to include mention of greenhouse gas emission reductions in trade agreements.

The US side stated this ban would not be lifted anytime soon."

From the USA Trade Dept: United States-United Kingdom Negotiations
Summary of Specific Negotiating Objectives

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/Summary-of-U.S.-UK-Negotiating-Objectives.pdf

On investment, the US objective in negotiation of the UK-US trade deal is to:
‘reduce or eliminate barriers to U.S. investment in all sectors in the UK’’

Similarly, on government procurement, the US wishes to:

‘increase opportunities for U.S. firms to sell U.S. products and services to the UK’,
while simultaneously restricting access for the UK
(for example, through keeping domestic preferential purchasing programs at state and local government levels).

The US document also attempts to regulate the UK’s relationship with third countries!

For example, it would constrain the UK’s ability to sign a trade deal with China by creating a mechanism to:

‘take appropriate action if the UK negotiates a free trade agreement with a non-market country’.

To preserve its commercial partnerships with Israel, the US states that one of its objectives is to:

‘discourage actions that directly or indirectly prejudice or otherwise discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel’.

< code for making it illegal for UK firms to follow the anti-Israel boycott - which is a loss of UK "sovereignty" >

US FTA

Obtaining public procurement contracts is a major UK aim in a US FTA, but in practice even an FTA leaves roadblocks

The UK would give open access to all contracts,
but the USA would give only limited access, because much of this is at state levels, hence not regulated by the FTA:

https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2569&context=faculty_publications

"But while access under the GPA and other free trade agreements has been codified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and its upplements,and so access is generally honored as a matter of practice in the federal acquisition process,
there are legal and practical barriers to any foreign vendor that seeks to enforce access under trade agreements.

In sum, foreign vendors’ access to the public procurement markets in the United States is far from assured, as a legal matter.
......
It should be emphasized, however, that the sheer bulk of federal procurement regulations – which run to thousands of pages – itself works a barrier to access.
Reformers have often recommended reducing the regulatory bulk, to lower costs for business and to minimize barriers to entry. Practically speaking, however, there are strong countervailing forces, whether born of inertia or bureaucratic self-interest, that resist any wholescale dismantling of what is, in fact, a startlingly complex regulatory regime."

What is most likely to put BJ off Abbott is prudent self-defence:

Abbott is likely to turn on him sooner or later, like he turned on his own party
They have little in common on other important iossues of the day, apart from Brexit
e.g. BJ doesn't want to sacrifice his elderly voters to COVID

Why bring in a loose cannon which is likely to be turned on himself

@Peregrina

I am not sure how Clavinova thinks that providing a list of providers of Customs training before anyone else has mentioned it, is a reply to my posts, when my previous ones were about same sex legislation and HS2.

It did have a whiff of whatabouttery to it.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/18697559.concerns-warrington-site-used-post-brexit-lorry-park/
Concerns as Warrington site to be used for post-Brexit lorry park

It is earmarked to be used as an in-land border and provide a large base for paperwork checks, alongside sample vehicle checks, for HGVs entering and leaving the country after Brexit, from January 1 2021.

And

It is suggested that this lorry park facility in the town would serve vehicles coming from Liverpool, areas of Wales and the wider north west region.

This site is 276 miles from the Channel Tunnel freight terminal or 101 miles to the Port of Holyhead or 31 miles from the Port of Liverpool.

Now, think about this carefully, what would you do if you wanted to dodge customs tax or smuggle something?

What could possibly go wrong here?

This story is completely NUTS.

I can be enthusiastic. I don't know much about trade, however the training providers are in this thread. Maybe I should go for the job.

I mean if all you need is enthusiasm.....

Actually, I think I could be quite good at customs stuff. Looks like I could commute to a customs car park facility much easier than I ever thought since the border now appears to have moved inland somewhat...

...Geography seems so... 2015.

But RTB remember how Louise told us that lorry drivers would obey rules
they would NEVER smuggle goods / people and make unauthorised stops for personal gain
Oh wait
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_lorry_deaths

We really are living through the Fall of Empire.

All we can do is gather up what precious knowledge we have scraped together over the centuries, and hope we can preserve it in remote inaccessible fortresses of sanctuary in the hope that when the time comes our descendants can re-sow the seeds of knowledge and bring light again.

You can either look back to the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, or forwards to Asimovs increasingly prescient Foundation. Seems the story is quite clear.

Does this help to clear things up on the trade front? It's by Jon Worth

But RTB remember how Louise told us that lorry drivers would obey rules

My main memory was Louise shrugging their shoulders and saying "I don't do details".

[quote ListeningQuietly]But RTB remember how Louise told us that lorry drivers would obey rules
they would NEVER smuggle goods / people and make unauthorised stops for personal gain
Oh wait
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_lorry_deaths[/quote]
Does this mean that Warrington is going to be like Calais, full of illegal immigrants?

Given that in good traffic its a 4 and a half hour drive to Folkestone and EU rules are that lorry drivers MUST take a 45 min break after no more than 4 and a half hours, does this mean this work directive is toast or that you will get lorries stopping all over the country before getting to the NW depot for customs??

Or that the facility will only be used for lorries exiting the country or only going to Liverpool or Holyhead and not over the Channel?

The story drags up far more questions than it answers. Customs facilities IN WARRINGTON?

Do they know where Warrington is ??? (They seem to at election time as Warrington is always high on the list of places that must be visited by PM and opposition leaders)

Louise's faith in human nature is touching, but is at odds with reality. Pity.

Anyway, I see Tony's appointment hasn't been officially confirmed by Downing St yet.

Given that in good traffic its a 4 and a half hour drive to Folkestone and EU rules are that lorry drivers MUST take a 45 min break after no more than 4 and a half hours, does this mean this work directive is toast or that you will get lorries stopping all over the country before getting to the NW depot for customs??

Remember those driverless lorries ?

@DGRossetti

Given that in good traffic its a 4 and a half hour drive to Folkestone and EU rules are that lorry drivers MUST take a 45 min break after no more than 4 and a half hours, does this mean this work directive is toast or that you will get lorries stopping all over the country before getting to the NW depot for customs??

Remember those driverless lorries ?

DGR, now that might well happen in the future, but not even the government are planning that for 1st Jan 2021. Are they?

Or do they have an app for that too?

So if Mr Abbott has enthusiasm and speaks fluent Brexit, and that is all he needs to get the rest of the world to roll over and give us cake, well here is what he actually had to say when he came up against the reality of a trade deal with China which meant Australia had to make concessions on free movement of Labour.

"This is too important to our country, to our businesses and our children, to be sacrificed at the altar of xenophobic short-term politics," he will say.

"The Coalition won't be part of that and I hope our opponents will end their flirtation with the ideas of the past."

That is going to go down well with the ERG, and those with Huawei paranoia ....

Sorry forgot to link www.afr.com/policy/economy/tony-abbotts-free-trade-agreement-message-to-china-a-deal-is-a-deal-20150729-gimlxv

I don't understand why people think the political clout Abbott had whilst Prime Minister is in fact an inalienable part of his person.

It's a testament to Brexit that the UK has to recruit has beens to champion it.

"DGR, now that might well happen in the future, but not even the government are planning that for 1st Jan 2021. Are they?"

You may have figured out their World-Beating Plan
It's not much less likely than their other WBPs

So if Mr Abbott has enthusiasm and speaks fluent Brexit, and that is all he needs to get the rest of the world to roll over and give us cake, well here is what he actually had to say when he came up against the reality of a trade deal with China which meant Australia had to make concessions on free movement of Labour.

Speaking fluent Brexit isn't a lot of help if the Chinese are still speaking Chinese.

Even Americans still will be speaking American rather than fluent Brexit.

Fluent Brexit just seems to be a euphamism for spouting bollocks to the big wigs in government and getting a large pay check for doing so without actually doing anything productive in term of trade or logistics.

Fluent Brexit speakers may still be baffled that the map of the world doesn't change just because they don't know it very well.

Was BJ there for an eye test ?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-03/johnson-accused-of-hypocrisy-over-speech-to-packed-tory-meeting?srnd=premium-europe

Boris Johnson was accused of hypocrisy as his office warned Britons against breaking pandemic social-distancing rules,
just minutes after the prime minister addressed a meeting of Conservative lawmakers he described as packed in “cheek by jowl.”

At least 50 Tory members of Parliament crammed into the parliamentary meeting room on Wednesday evening for the meeting,
despite a sign on the door warning only 29 should be allowed in to limit the spread of coronavirus.

And Johnson even commented on how he wanted people to be packed together in the same way by Christmas, according to two people at the meeting.

BJ's tweet, with attached warning:

UK Prime Minister @10DowningStreet**

Gatherings of more than 30 people are illegal.
Breaking the rules could cost you thousands.
If you attend an illegal gathering, you could be fined £100, increasing on each offence up to £3,200.

@BigChocFrenzy

"DGR, now that might well happen in the future, but not even the government are planning that for 1st Jan 2021. Are they?"

You may have figured out their World-Beating Plan
It's not much less likely than their other WBPs

Given that every other one of their world beating plans is a pile of monumental shit I am not sure whether this might be serious or not.

When is the U-Turn pencilled in for on customs 276 miles from the border?

Putting in a border post in the middle of a swing constituency wouldn't seem like a bright idea either unless they've got the election stuff sown up too. (Oh wait... thats the catch isn't it?) I wonder how the Brexit supporting Conservative MP will react to the plan? Perhaps he could cut the ribbon for its grand opening!

I swear, that I can't be surprised anymore by the sheer level of stupidity / lack of ability by this government, only to wake up the next day and groan at the latest gem of wisdom.

Whats happening with the Scotland - Ireland bridge anyway?

Not heard anything about that one for a while. I am looking forward to the next time its announced as a original new plan.