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U.S. and China Make Landmark Climate Deal
An anonymous reader writes: After extended talks on the issue of climate change, the U.S. and China have reached a landmark accord to curb emissions in the near future. The two countries are the top carbon polluters, so their actions are likely to have a major effect on world pollution levels and also set the standard for other countries. The agreement includes China's first-ever commitment to stop the growth of its emissions by 2030. They plan on shifting a big chunk of their energy production to renewables in that time. The U.S. agreed to emit 26-28% less carbon in 2025 than it did in 2005. Their efforts could spur greater enthusiasm for a new global climate agreement in 2015.
Reader jones_supa adds details of another interesting part of the U.S.-China talks:
Technology products look likely to gain more access to international markets as a result of upgrade between the U.S. and China on a 1996 tariff-eliminating trade agreement that President Obama announced Tuesday in Beijing. The agreement is expected to lower prices on a raft of new technology products by eliminating border tariffs — a price impact that's expected to be larger outside the United States, since U.S. tariffs on high-tech goods are generally lower than those overseas. "This is a win-win-win agreement for information and communication technology industries in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China, for businesses and consumers who purchase IT products and for the global economy."
Everyone who believes China will uphold their end of the deal, raise your hand.
Thought so.
I wonder where Obama is going to plant those magic beans he just bought.
China has a much better reputation when it comes to trade deals that the US does.
Or, you could pay attention to the news, or just fucking google "US loses WTO ruling".
America has ignored the treaties on Softwood with Canada, Country of Origin Labeling for meat, tariffs they never should have charge (China), has consistently been assholes about steel imports to protect their own domestic, has massive farm subsidies despite claiming other countries shouldn't do that.
In short, America is a bunch of assholes with selective interpretation of trade agreements -- and America will use illegal protectionist policies ever after they've been told they're not allowed to.
America as a trading partner can be absolutely terrible. Because they don't like to apply the rules evenly or consistently.
"Free trade" with the US is a joke, because Americans are, at heart, protectionist assholes who think they're special.
That your average America is too uninformed to know these things is unsurprising. Because you're all pretty much idiots.
The deal is very likely structured so the Senate won'/t be consulted. Just more of Barack Obama's contempt for the Constitution.
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