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Originally Posted by Sephiroth
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I think you've pulled too narrow a meaning in your response to me remark. "Our fish" means our waters. Other than that, it is a potential trading chip. But do please remember, the big bully EU are standing on as tiny a proportion of their economy as we are; the issue is totemic as I'm sure you are aware. Trouble is that their negotiating approach is to remind us that they are very big and we are small.
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If by totemic you mean people place an absolutely irrational value or meaning to them, then absolutely yes I'm in agreement.
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Do we share the same sea? The sea is parcelled up into territorial waters and economic waters, all recognised under International Law.
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While we have clearly defined borders within it, we fundamentally share or have a stake in it and the sustainability of fishing stocks.
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I understand your point, but you would know as well as I do that the EU doesn't want to UK to be more competitive than their stifled industries rather than the other way round. They are the ones insisting on a level playing field. Our Guvmin is not (although some might criticise that).
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Nor would we want the EU to be more competitive than our own industry - it's fairly fundamental to any international trade. It doesn't make the EU the "big bad guy"; indeed if we take that view then India, Japan, China and the USA will all be the same in negotiations due to relative economic strength.
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I just want to be shot of the EU and watch it tear itself apart in due course.
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Politically that's straightforward, even done. However economically that can't be the case for as long as trade (and the EU) exists.