“The Role of ASEAN Is Highly Underappreciated”: An Exclusive Interview with Professor Michael Plummer
"It is a region with 50% more people than the European Union and it is very politically, economically, and culturally diverse..."
"It is a region with 50% more people than the European Union and it is very politically, economically, and culturally diverse..."
"China is a giant and cannot be threatened by the rapid growth of its neighbours."
China is the leading producer of many of the world’s most important metals while also having a commanding position in key supply chains.
The Economic Nationalist-Mercantilist system may be less efficient, but it has the capacity to make local economies more independent, sustainable and resilient.
"Because the present system is premised on a production-consumption and financial model, the solutions to crises are presented as population reduction and what even appears, at least in the case of Europe, as population replacement."
"It is quite shocking that the new German president of the European Commission calls for zero dumping, when her own country is one of the world’s biggest dumpers of goods onto world markets."
"Our just-in-time merchandising is dangerous."
"The potential for more damaging secondary effects from a major pandemic should not be underestimated."
"It really is time to walk away from this increasingly ludicrous institution."
Nordstream 2 is "a logical development stemming from the facts that Russia wants to provide gas and Germany wants to buy it, which led to a mutually acceptable agreement and commitment of many billions of dollars, largely by the firms Uniper and Wintershall of Germany, Royal Dutch Shell, Austria’s OMV and Engie of France in association with Russia’s Gazprom — an impressive example of European pragmatism."
"It’s ironic that while UK Remainers agonise endlessly over the supposed disastrous effects of the UK breaking away from the EU’s trade and regulatory system, the EU Commission appears to fear the precise opposite – that such a breakaway will allow a more nimble UK to thrive and leave the EU in its wake, and that such an outcome might encourage other member states to follow the UK out of the door."
"The coronavirus outbreak has ... brutally exposed the shortcomings of globalisation and just-in-time supply chains..."
"In a radio interview with a Moroccan journalist Mr Reilly warns Rabat not to develop relations with Gibraltar as this would anger Madrid."
"As TTIP has not been ratified, the EU trades with the United States under WTO terms, modified by such bilateral agreements. There are in fact 147 agreements listed on the EU Treaties database as being in force between the USA and the EU."
"In mid-2019, the EU attempted to pressure Switzerland into signing a vassalage deal by withdrawing equivalence – which they can do, at short notice, with no reason. So far, the impact is indiscernible."
The coronavirus outbreak is a "potential harbinger of human and economic calamity".
"It is in the EU's best interest to get a FTA out of the transition period, if demand in Britain for goods and services from continental Europe drops, due to reciprocal restrictions or poor relations, for French wine and cheese or for German automobiles or for Italian food then it'll be the European Union and its businesses that will feel the brunt."
"There are already 3 billion middle class people in the world and by 2030 AMRO estimates that there will be over 5 billion. As people become wealthier, they eat more, have money to save and invest, and have more leisure time. So UK industries should be looking for export opportunities outside the EU, not demanding protection, subsidies or tying themselves to EU regulations and the mythical level playing field."
"The EU is an anti-democratic beast whose only modus operandi is to impose its ideas and will on EU member states."
"So, when the EU says that not everything can be agreed by 31 December 2020, that is fine. The only constructive way out ... is to agree what can be agreed, and find an equitable transition for those issues that remain."
"The results are stark: before 2000, the U.S. was at the helm of global trade, as over 80% of countries traded with the U.S. more than they did with China. By 2018, that number had dropped sharply to just 30%, as China swiftly took top position in 128 of 190 countries."
"If I had the time this morning to trawl the last three years of trade headlines, I’d have analysed everything Donald Trump said he wanted from China and put them all on a list. I’d then put yesterday’s “agreement” beside it, and work out what’s missing. It’s likely to be a long list."
"The real catalyst for change, however, came on 3 September. Twenty-one ultra-Remainer Conservative rebels supported an emergency motion taking control of the Commons timetable, to pass a bill blocking a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. ... Johnson promptly responded by withdrawing the Conservative whip from the twenty-one."
"The EU’s main aim is rather to assert the maximum degree of economic and political control over the UK."