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Lesson 8 |
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Trading standards |
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What makes trading between rich countries difficult? |
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Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, |
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are not fit to grace European tables. |
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No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. |
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These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, |
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that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. |
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It is not just farmers who are complaining. |
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An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, |
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and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the market in Europe. |
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As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. |
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So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, |
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why have two lots of tests where one would do? |
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Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products. |
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They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. |
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Although negotiators are optimistic, |
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the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all. |
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Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. |
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The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, |
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say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing. |
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The EU--following fine continental traditions -- wants agreement on general principles, |
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which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries. |