After Brexit Great Britain and Australia sign trade pact

Status: 15.06.2021 12:07 p.m. Great Britain and Australia have agreed on a free trade agreement. The deal will ensure further growth, announced the government in London. But there are also skeptical voices. For the first time since Brexit, Great Britain has signed a completely renegotiated trade agreement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reached a free trade agreement with his Australian colleague Scott Morrison. The heads of government have cleared the last stumbling blocks out of the way in the past few days, said both sides.

Boost for 3.5 million employees?

Accordingly, manufacturers of cars and whiskey would benefit from duty-free, the government announced in London. Young Britons under 35 should be given more freedom to live and work in Australia. Industries with around 3.5 million employees in the UK received a boost. The contract will ensure further growth. “Today marks a new dawn in the UK’s relationship with Australia, one that is fueled by our shared history and values,” said Johnson. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan described the deal as a “gain for jobs, businesses, free trade”.

Exemption from duty for whiskey, among other things Image: dpa

“Good news for both countries”

In 2020, UK-Australian trade was worth £ 13.9 billion – around € 16.15 billion. The UK is Australia’s fifth largest trading partner. Before the British became part of the EU and with it the internal market in 1973, Australia was even the most important trading partner. Economist Gabriele Suder from RMIT University in Melbourne welcomed the British-Australian deal. This is good news for both countries. After all, it is the first agreement in the post-Brexit era. She expects the deal to bring the Australian economy 1.3 billion Australian dollars (around 830 million euros) annually. Other experts believe the pact will be more important to Britain. Australia has a strong trade focus on Asia.

analysis 04/27/2021

04/28/2021

British farmers fear imports

However, the pact with Australia is controversial in Great Britain. Farmers fear a flood of imports of lamb and beef as soon as customs duties cease to exist. This could affect British sheep and cattle farmers. The government in London stressed that the deal included ceilings on duty-free imports over the next 15 years, as well as quotas and other safeguards. Farmers’ associations called on parliament to closely monitor the contract. According to Australian data, the country’s farmers will benefit from the agreement.

Treaties with dozens of states

Great Britain is currently repositioning itself after Brexit. Since the UK left the EU, it has signed trade deals with dozens of countries. However, these were always copies of the pre-Brexit EU treaties with these states.

report March 29, 2021

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow is pursuing normalization of relations with Washington and called on the US to also take responsibility in these efforts. (Source: Press TV) In the context that the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden will take place in a week in Geneva, Switzerland, Deputy Minister Ryabkov said: “This is really an important event in the world. international agenda. We hope this event will answer many questions.” The Russian diplomat said that he did not know after this contact whether a sustainable trend towards solving problems and normalizing relations could be guaranteed, but Russia would pursue this. . This is the crux of all the tasks Russia is trying to solve today, Ryabkov said, calling on the Biden administration to be “as responsible and capable as Moscow” to achieve it. this. The Russian Deputy Minister said that at the current stage of development of international relations, time passes faster than what the two countries have done, referring to the Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START). The Russian diplomat said that, despite just renewing the Treaty, “the US midterm elections are approaching and the countdown to the 5-year extension of New START is happening very quickly”, so need not waste time and focus on achieving a certain new modern paradigm of arms control. “We need not only to find a solution to the question of whether there is an opportunity to de-escalate tensions, but also to the problem of a new ‘security equation’ in relations between the two countries. Russia is also ready for this.” (according to TASS)

Unlike the Arctic, where many countries around the world have built their own bases to serve a number of fields both in terms of science, economy and military, for Antarctica, this is still an unofficial land. government although the countries closest to it are Argentina, South Africa and Australia. Every year, during the winter, Antarctica does not receive any sunlight for 6 months; In summer, the sun is always on the horizon. Most of the sunlight falling on Antarctica is reflected back by the white ice, 1.9km thick on average, plus the highest terrain in the world (2,800m above sea level) giving this place its climate. coldest on earth. In the middle of summer, when the sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, the average temperature in Antarctica is -25°C. In winter, when the sun moves down the Northern Hemisphere, Antarctica is as cold as -65°C and in some places -89.2°C. A cruise ship takes visitors to Antarctica Initially, only seven countries made claims, including Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, and Great Britain, by setting up facilities in the name of scientific research. Some other countries such as India, Italy, Russia, USA, Pakistan, Ukraine… although not claiming sovereignty, they also build long-term and sustainable constructions. In 1959, after much controversy, in order to prevent military conflicts, the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and nine other countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, which essentially “set aside territorial claims” and use Antarctica for peaceful purposes only. Jane Francis, head of the Antarctic Survey, UK, said: “In 1980, five more countries made claims to sovereignty and now, 54 countries are present in Antarctica with 75 research stations. That poses many problems that need to be solved, such as climate change, fishing, tourism, resource exploitation…”. The results of 50 years of observations show that temperatures in some areas of Antarctica are rising much faster than the global average. This leads to melting glaciers and consequent sea level rise. Marine biologist Damon Stanwell-Smith, who first visited Antarctica more than 25 years ago, said: “Things have changed rapidly and we can see clearly. Just six years ago, there was Areas that are not accessible by boat during the winter are now experiencing large currents, allowing tour operators to bring tourists to visit Antarctica. Still according to Damon Stanwell-Smith, from November last year to April last, despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic, 51,000 tourists set foot on Antarctica, an increase of 17% over the previous year and will continue to grow. continues to increase even though the tour price is from 1,000USD to 100,000USD per person depending on geographical distance. “In addition to the 33 ships registered with the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, there are 20 other ships under construction, not to mention the kayaking or air-plane tours that make Antarctica an oasis,” Mr. Damon said. play uncontrollably…”. The majority of tourists to Antarctica are Chinese, second only to the US in the ranking because Beijing is investing heavily in the continent, as part of its plan to become a “polar power”. What is Antarctica when the Antarctic Treaty is no longer in place? The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was adopted in 1991. It entered into force in 1998 and is the main instrument related to the conservation and management of biodiversity in Antarctica, in which There is a ban on exploitation of natural resources. However, after 50 years, the countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty can decide to amend the fishing ban provided that at least three-quarters of the current consultations – the 29 countries of the Antarctic Treaty – agree. Notice when the 50-year period will end in 2048. Whales slaughtered at a logistics base in Antarctica However, before the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, seal hunting in Antarctica was practiced as early as the 18th century by the British, Norwegians, Argentines and Chilean. Meanwhile, large-scale whaling in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters increased sharply in the early 20th century, mainly by Norwegian and British companies. Whaling logistics stations erected in Antarctica are implied to be part of that country’s territory because, under international law, state activity is a key element of ownership territory. It is therefore not surprising that it is expressed in many forms by all the claimants to Antarctica, from scientific research facilities to dormitories for experts, rescue stations or offices that maintain navigation, airports, logistics, harbors, lighthouses, not to mention that some governments license whaling, seals, The establishment of national parks, the issuance of postage stamps, the mapping and naming of each area, etc., are concrete examples of the race to own Antarctica. According to National Geographic, UK, an increasing number of activities are damaging Antarctica, such as legal and illegal fishing, including the molluscs it contains. is the main food for whales. Arthur Devries, a fish biologist at the University of Illinois, USA, said that since 2003 he has not found an adult toothfish in Antarctica while in 1970, he caught 500 fish for a season to study a protein in the body of fish that helps make anticoagulants. Environmentalist Huck Dulown of the University of Gundee, UK, says he has collected hundreds of meters of damaged nets left behind by fishing boats, not to mention engine oil and household waste. travel. Huck Dulown said: “There are places called ‘scientific research stations’ but maybe inside are not military bases and it is not excluded that it hid missiles with nuclear warheads as it once happened. It goes against Article 1 of the Antarctic Treaty: “Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. Any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases, the conduct of military exercises, the testing of any weapon, are prohibited. Antarctica is humanity’s last unspoiled reserve. Under the ice of this continent is an extremely large mineral resource including oil, copper, gold, titanium, uranium, rare earth …, and the surrounding seas are inhabited by many types of creatures. In addition, the glaciers in Antarctica contain 90% of the fresh water in the world, so South Africa, for example, was planning to pull an iceberg to serve the freshwater shortage in the city of Cap Town. A scientific research station in Antarctica And although Antarctica itself is a demilitarized zone, armed conflicts have arisen in a number of its vicinity, including Chile and Argentina over an island near Cape Horn, as well as claims to the South China Sea. The two countries’ overlapping territorial claims, or the war between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands, is the gateway to Antarctica. Although the war ended long ago with the victory belonging to Britain, according to observers, it is very likely that it will flare up again. Jim Tymothy, a professor in the Department of Geopolitics, Yale University, USA, said: “The fate of the territories in Antarctica depends on the coordination of the great powers. If coordination is not achieved, the continent will share seven in the next 20 to 30 years, and that could lead to an Antarctic war, is based on these factors: The emergence of technology that allows the rapid and economical supply of fresh water from glaciers in the South China Sea. Antarctica to dry regions, rising oil prices and increasing demand for crude oil Besides, food also needs to be exploited more due to the growing global population, which requires fishing in Antarctic waters…”. At the moment, there is no such convergence of interests, but more than ever, it is likely to take shape because over 60 years, up to now, 54 countries have joined the Antarctic Treaty. including 29 European countries, 9 Asian countries, 8 South American countries, 4 in North and Central America, 3 in Oceania and 1 in Africa. Not only that, the number of consultative parties of the Treaty with bases in Antarctica is also constantly increasing: Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Korea Countries, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, UK, India, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA and Switzerland. The remaining 25 countries join the Antarctic Treaty as non-consulting parties but still have the right to attend relevant meetings without being included in the decision-making process. However, although “not included in the decision-making process”, these 25 countries still assert their position in Antarctica through scientific research stations, airports, ports, logistics facilities, etc. So the Antarctic race probably hasn’t stopped yet because no one is sure that in the future, no country will send people to this cold continent…

State Duma Building of the Russian Federation. Photo: Sputnik/Natalya Seliverstova From the morning of May 19, the plenary session of the State Duma began with a discussion on this issue. According to Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin – Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, after summarizing the voting results, the Russian Duma has agreed to terminate the validity of the Open Skies Treaty. A day earlier, the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs also unanimously supported the annulment of the Open Skies Treaty. Before the vote, the official representative of the Russian President, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, presented a report on the situation surrounding the Treaty, stating that the Russian side had given the United States enough time to think about the Treaty. Wish Open Sky. “If Washington is really interested in coming to an exchange of opinions and reconsidering the wrong decision of the previous administration, they can immediately do so,” Ryabkov added. This treaty affording the Contracting States the right to fly over any of each other’s territories to monitor military activity and to conduct such flights on a regular basis has become one of the constructive measures. trust in Europe after the Cold War. The Open Skies Treaty was signed in Helsinki (Finland) on March 24, 1992, and ratified by Russia on May 26, 2001. In May 2020, the United States started the process of withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty, which was completed on November 22. In response to this decision, on January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the promotion of domestic procedures for exiting the Treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin has transferred to the State Duma a bill on the cancellation of this agreement.

Arbez Hotel is a 2-star hotel located in the town of La Cure, 5 km north of Geneva, Switzerland. This is a small, beautiful, cozy hotel built in the nineteenth century, is a suitable getaway for skiers. In 1862, when the French and Swiss governments decided to change the border line in the Dappes valley. With the foresight, businessman Monsieur Ponthus decided to build a building on family property for cross-border business. In February 1863, when the border treaty came into effect, the building was also completed. Mr. Ponthus then opened a bar in France and a souvenir shop in Switzerland inside the building. In 1921, businessman Jules – Jean Arbeze acquired this building, turning it into a unique multinational hotel and officially renaming it Arbez Franco-Suisse. The hotel viewed from the French side. In the bottom corner is an image of a landmark located next to the wall of the house. The dining room, kitchen, hallway and some rooms are located between the border of the two countries. Photo: Hotel Arbez Franco-Suisse, March 2012. The border line cuts across the stairs. The entrance to the hotel from the French side. The border line runs through the hotel dining room. Everything in the hotel is decorated in parallel with two symbols of France and Switzerland. A border landmark behind the hotel. Viewed from the air, the French and Swiss border runs through the hotel.

The European Parliament has announced its decision to ratify the Brexit trade pact with Great Britain. As expected, the Bureau agreed to the contract, said Parliament President David Sassoli in Brussels. The contract, which has only been applied provisionally so far, can therefore come into force on May 1st.

A long struggle comes to an end

The trade and cooperation agreement received an overwhelming majority of 660 of the 697 votes cast, ending the tough and nerve-wracking struggle for the UK to exit the EU in an orderly manner. The aim was to prevent a hard break with legal uncertainty and chaos at the borders. Specifically, the contract includes rules on fishing as well as cooperation on energy, transport, justice, police and many other topics. The pact gives Great Britain access to the EU internal market. In return, the EU demanded fair competition – the so-called level playing field. What is meant are the same environmental, social and subsidy standards.

The issue of fisheries only provisionally resolved

An important sticking point in the negotiations was the access of EU fishermen to British waters. A transition period of five and a half years was agreed, during which EU fishermen are allowed to fish 25 percent less in British waters. This should then be determined annually. In the parliamentary debate on Tuesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recognized the contract and promoted its acceptance. The agreement protects the rights of the citizens, prevents significant breaks for the economy, safeguards the EU internal market and EU standards.

State news agency Anadolu said both deployments, scheduled for April 14 and 15, were canceled as Ankara has not been informed of any possible plans from the US side.

Last week, Turkey announced that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that two US warships “would head towards the Black Sea” and remained in the area until 4-5.

There was no confirmation from Washington of planned rollouts or cancellations.

Washington was obliged to notify Ankara at least 15 days before passing warships through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles under the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention.

The Strait of Bosphorus in the Black Sea – Photo: AFP

The treaty provisions allow foreign warships to stay in the Black Sea for 21 days.

US Navy ships have regularly operated in the region to support Ukraine, which has been fighting against forces in its east since the pro-Moscow leader in Kiev was overthrown in 2014.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea at the same time, setting up a confrontation with the West that continues to this day.

Last week, the announcement of the US warship deployment came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev due to the reinforcement of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border.

These deployments came amid new clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

News on April 14 about the cancellation of the deployment of US warships comes a day after US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

During that conversation, Biden proposed a summit with Putin in a neutral country and urged Russia to “reduce tensions,” according to the White House.

To increase the range, the PrSM missile will be equipped with a new generation engine system, upgrading the navigation system without increasing the size of the missile.

US PrSM system.

The new propulsion system enables the missile to be launched from the foundation of existing US HIMARS jet artillery systems.

“When the INF Treaty is no longer in effect and medium-range missiles are no longer bound by range, we can increase the range of our weapons to complete missions,” the source said.

The Breaking Defense expert said that although the PrSM has increased its range by more than 3 times, this weapon still cannot compare with the Russian 9M729 missile – a weapon accused by the US of violating the INF while the treaty is in effect. .

The Russian 9M729 missile known as the SSC-8 has a maximum range of 5,500km. With such a range and complicated flight journey, Russia’s 9M729 missile is considered a threat to the US and to its European allies.

General John Hyten, of the US Strategic Command, admitted similarly in a testimony before Congress, saying that the new SSC-8 missile that Russia has deployed can defeat defense shields. US and European allies, especially when launched in large numbers.

It is known that 9M729 was developed and tested by Russia for many years, based on the missile version 9M728. The 9M729 is a ground-based version of the Kalibr-NK long-range ocean-based cruise missile complex, so it carries all of the basic tactical features of this missile.

9M729 is equipped with control and navigation system based on inertia with Doppler sensor that adjusts the attack angle according to the Glonass satellite navigation system and GPS. In the final stage, the self-guided missile radar will be activated, automatically finding and rushing to attack the target with a warhead weighing up to 450kg.

The missile is launched in a vertical position with the help of a solid fuel engine that increases the thrust after launch. The propeller-propeller jet engine then sends the missile thousands of kilometers to the target at subsonic flight speeds.

In terms of design, the 9M729 is built on a conventional aerodynamic principle with the wings folded in the body while moving. 9M729 can easily overcome enemy air defenses with complex flight journeys with many turns at very low altitudes.

The only difference that helps 9M729 assert its power compared to the Kalibr-NK version installed on the warships is the range. If Kalibr-NK has a maximum range of about 2,500 km, 9M729 can attack targets at distances of up to 5,400 km.

In particular, according to US intelligence sources, 9M729 is also developed by Russia with the ability to carry nuclear warheads. And this is one of the reasons that the US and its European allies are feverish with the 9M729 missile.

Now, more than anyone, Americans feel very clearly that the lion has awakened and with his endless claws and ambitions, gradually from partner to rival of America. Mr. Joe Biden has chosen a different method from his predecessor: re-establishing alliances to control this ferocious “lion” has just awakened.

That’s exactly what President Biden’s administration is doing. Rotate the shaft to Europe; promoting the actual formation of the US – Japan – Australia – India “Diamond Four” mechanism. And strengthening 3-way relations with 2 partners, 2 top US allies in Northeast Asia: Japan, South Korea.

An offer cannot be refused

That is a relationship with many ups and downs spanning many decades in history.

In the early 1960s, when China had just acquired nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War was on the rise, President Johnson’s administration sought to promote relations with Japan. and Korea aimed to counter the communist movement in Asia. But, in order to reinforce this triangular relationship, it was the Johnson administration’s job at the time to “repair” the bilateral relationship between Japan and Korea, which had continued to tense after grievances in the past. World War 2.

Mr. Joe Biden has different methods from his predecessor. Photo: LG

The US had in hand a “trump card” to solve this dilemma: the superior military and economic strength at that time. Who pays, he or she has the right to order music! While Japan and South Korea continued negotiations that lasted more than 13 years, since 1951, aimed at normalizing bilateral relations, American diplomats have delivered a fairly simple message: what if Japan Japan and South Korea have established a friendly relationship, the US will continue to provide both military and economic support for both partners.

Simply put, it is an irrefutable offer! On June 22, 1965, at the Prime Minister’s Palace in Tokyo, the representatives of Japan and Korea signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and Korea, often referred to as the Japan-Korea Treaty. This treaty provided the basic foundation for restoring diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, which had been interrupted since 1945.

By the 1980s, the administration of US President Ronald Reagan continued the policy direction of promoting relations between Japan and South Korea. With the encouragement of the United States, South Korean President Choon Do-hwan and Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro held the first summit in 1983 and 1984. The United States also pledged to ensure security for Korea. , reassessed strong support for Japan, while calling on Tokyo to play a greater role in ensuring security in Asia.

By the late 1990s, the US began a new step in its relationship with two allies in Northeast Asia: the US – Japan – Korea triangle relationship. To foster this relationship, a Tripartite Monitoring and Cooperation Group (TCOG) has been formed as well as the implementation of the “Perry Process” (named US Secretary of Defense William Perry), which is the to the expert level to help policymakers of the three sides have conditions to discuss and exchange to strengthen cooperation between the US and Japan and South Korea …

“Thorn” in a 3-way game

However, the US will have to make a lot more effort if Biden’s policy of strengthening relations with Northeast Asian allies will be effective, because the Japan-Korea relationship has recently shown signs of developing. Fierce disputes, no signs of cooling down.

For more than three decades after the signing of the Japan-Korea Treaty, the two sides continued to argue over different interpretations of the treaty, which exempted Japan from any compensation for the period of its occupation. during World War 2.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of Korea suddenly ruled that Japanese companies must compensate victims of forced labor during the war. After this controversial ruling, the relationship between the two sides quickly turned in a bad way. Both Seoul and Tokyo are excluded from the list of most favored nation states in trade relations. While Tokyo imposed restrictions on the export of key raw materials on Korea’s large-scale semiconductor industry and many other items, a nationwide boycott campaign took place. items made in Japan. Japanese businesses are also the subject of anti-countermeasure campaigns in Korea …

The dispute between the two sides culminated when in August 2019, Seoul announced that it was likely to withdraw from the Treaty on Important Information Sharing with Tokyo, which was signed in 2016; South Korea will only continue to cooperate with Japan in military information, through a trilateral information-sharing agreement, in which the US plays an intermediary role.

This action threatened the US-Japan-Korea alliance structure in the context of Northeast Asia geopolitics frequently “red alert” due to tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, just a few hours before the Japan Intelligence Sharing Treaty expires, Seoul decided to extend the treaty, a move that made the United States relieved, relieved of its thousands of pounds that threatened to destroy it. broken US – Japan – Korea triangular relations.

Throughout 2020, the bilateral relationship between Korea and Japan did not improve significantly. Most recently, the Korean Defense White Paper announced in February 2021 no longer calls Japan “partner”, a worrying signal for the relationship between the two sides. In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic raging around the world, travel restrictions have further reduced opportunities for exchanges between people of the two countries, making the ability to restore Japan-Korea relations very difficult. towel.

Japan remains an economic powerhouse. Photo: LG

The currency is the currency ahead of Wisdom

During his four years in the White House, Mr. Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of allies in Northeast Asia, repeatedly debating the costs of maintaining US troops in both Korea and Japan. Copy. Those moves have undermined the US’s ability to assume the unwritten role of being a (key) party building a bridge between Seoul and Tokyo. This leads to the fact that the US – Japan – Korea triangular relationship has fallen into the bleakest situation in the last months of the Trump term.

Aware of the damage caused by his predecessor, the Biden administration seeks to reorganize the trilateral alliance relationship. It is important not to let either partner feel the US is biased towards the other.

However, it is obvious that due to the different geographical location, history, political regime as well as the size of the economies of each party, the value of each Northeast Asian ally to the United States is also. different.

Outperformed by China (to become the second largest economy in the world), Japan remains an economic powerhouse. But, this economy is increasingly dependent on Chinese markets, capital sources and production chains. Therefore, Japan is careful when choosing its position, ensuring to gain the greatest benefits in the context of the fierce Sino-US confrontation.

Tokyo’s optimal choice is to build a relationship just enough with the US to avoid falling into a passive position in the Sino-Japanese relationship, as a bargaining chip with China; while maintaining its role as a trusted US ally to deal with the security challenges that have recently emerged on the Korean Peninsula.

Compared to Japan, South Korea is more dependent on the US for the military but more on China economically. The US is the only ally, and China is Seoul’s biggest trading partner. Korea cannot and does not want to have to choose between either party. Maintaining a relatively neutral position between the US and China is also a sensible choice for Seoul.

In order to serve the strategy of rebuilding allied relations in Northeast Asia, not only actively mediating the difficult relationship between Japan and South Korea, the US must also actively involve Japan. and South Korea is back in a trajectory that is allied with America itself. At the end of February, the US and Japan signed a cost-sharing agreement for the US military stationed in Japan. By early March, the US reached an agreement with South Korea to sign the XI Special Bilateral Military Cost-Sharing Agreement (SMA) for a period of six years.

These are the economic levers that were used decades ago and they are still in effect today.

The money (of the US) is the smart money!