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A "British-shaped deal".
This is where we are. This is the degree of respect your government has for you, Brits. They think they can use a phrase like "British-shaped deal" and you'll assume it means something.
It doesn't mean something. https://twitter.com/tradegovuk/status/1320841865613217794
This is where we are. This is the degree of respect your government has for you, Brits. They think they can use a phrase like "British-shaped deal" and you'll assume it means something.
It doesn't mean something. https://twitter.com/tradegovuk/status/1320841865613217794
Quite aside from that, the desperation just drips off this thread from this "government" department.
"Japan agreed to a deal and it's MUCH BETTER than the one we walked away from. Japan agrees to not call its clotted cream products 'Cornish' in Japan."
"Japan agreed to a deal and it's MUCH BETTER than the one we walked away from. Japan agrees to not call its clotted cream products 'Cornish' in Japan."
Which is lovely! Thank you, Japan.
I mean, I'm jumping the gun a little, because obviously Japan hasn't actually agreed to recognise any of these 70 GIs we're yet to put forward. Tbh, I'm assuming they will, and the Department of Scrabbling Around Begging For Trade obviously >
I mean, I'm jumping the gun a little, because obviously Japan hasn't actually agreed to recognise any of these 70 GIs we're yet to put forward. Tbh, I'm assuming they will, and the Department of Scrabbling Around Begging For Trade obviously >
assumes they will... What Japan actually does is, of course, up to Japan. After all, don't forget, *we desperately need this deal*. They don't. They have lucrative agreements with markets all round the world - not least the EU. We have nothing. And this isn't me "talking >
Britain down" - these are the facts, and you don't need to be an economics expert to see them.
Japan may well choose to indulge us on this, as it may with any number of little things. But don't be distracted here. This is token. A show of good will, if anything. Japan loses >
Japan may well choose to indulge us on this, as it may with any number of little things. But don't be distracted here. This is token. A show of good will, if anything. Japan loses >
nothing from agreeing to recognise these designations within its own internal market. And it's no bad thing in itself. Better to have it than not. But let's not pretend that one country agreeing to indulge us on GIs within its own market is a tangible economic benefit, or that >
it signals some substantial UK influence. Don't let's lose sight of the fact that this is the first hint of a trade deal with anyone (at least one that doesn't require us to sacrifice the NHS), and all the Department of Cap-In-Hand can present to us is GIs on cheese.
Like I said, I'm sure some brexist or other will accuse me of being dismissive of a demonstrable success. But remember what we've lost. I'll give the Department of Humble Pie credit for a job well done when we're in a better position than we were before brexit.
