EU and US free trade area deal

[CaptainQuintero]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/06/uk-eu-usa-trade-exclusive-idUKBREA151A120140206

What's the odds that tobacco and alcohol are still going to be not part of this deal

Eg the UK is part of the EU but tobacco and alcohol are not allowed to be brought into the UK unless you are going in person and it is something similar to one bottle of whiskey and one box of cigars/carton of cigarettes per person. The UK government excuse is that this is to protect UK businesses from uncompetitive prices in continental Europe.....so the free trade area is not actually a free trade area on anything that could get you a more competitive price!

So what is going to actually be covered in this deal for the average Joe? Zilch I'm guessing! Going to only be for the boy boy reach around club and the mega deals :/

If it truly is a free trade area than wages are going to be an issue; whichever has the lowest minimum wage (Or can lower its minimum wage the lowest) will get the most exports to the other. Is this going to be the great minimum wage cut war between the EU 3rd tier nations like Bulgaria and Romania and the US? Who can pay their workers the lowest and put the other side out of business

..or is it just going to be another cosy golden handshake for the top dogs so get themselves some higher profit margins on their mega economy of scale deals?

[IcedCanuck]

Canada has had free trade with the US for a long time but alcohol and tobacco are most certainly not included in that. Furthermore I have to pay the Harmonized Sales Tax on everything I have personally brought over from a days worth of shopping in the US. I thought NAFTA was supposed to get rid of tariffs on roughly 50% of goods ... if that's the case I have no idea what is covered and what is not.

[sengjc]

Probably golden handshake scenario. If you operate a trading company, you'll be rubbing your hands in glee at the prospect of increased revenue.