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WORLD NEWS Friday 7 July 2017

EU, Japan hail free trade deal: “A message to the world”

By RAF CASERT the profits from their deal
Associated Press — from carmakers in Ja-
BRUSSELS (AP) — The lead- pan to Champagne pro-
ers of the European Union ducers in Europe.
and Japan on Thursday The deal eliminates tariffs
said their agreement in on many goods and servic-
principle on free trade is es so producers can com-
the best antidote to the pete on a more level-play-
protectionism seen to be ing field in each other’s
promoted by the United markets. For consumers, it
States. will mean some products
The leaders said in a state- will be cheaper.
ment that the EU and Ja- EU exports of goods and
pan “demonstrate to the services total some 87 bil-
world - and to our citizens” lion euros ($99 billion) a
that free trade remains year to Japan, which in
vital to boost living stan- turn exports some 82 bil-
dards. lion euros to the 28-nation
Countering calls for pro- bloc.
tectionism, EU Council EU Commission President
President Donald Tusk said Jean-Claude Juncker esti-
that the political agree- European Council President Donald Tusk, left, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and mated that EU winemakers
ment proves that “the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker greet each other prior to a meeting at the would save 134 million eu-
world doesn’t need to go Europa building in Brussels Thursday, July 6, 2017. ros a year and leather and
back 100 years back in (AP Photo/Francois Walschaerts) shoe manufacturers 174
time,” when open trade The deal, clinched Wednes- Abe and Tusk will be able At the Hamburg sum- milion euros.
was not as prevalent. day before Abe’s arrival, to hold the deal up as evi- mit, U.S. President Donald Cheeses like Gouda and
Japan’s Prime Minister covers regions equivalent dence against any claims Trump and his “America Cheddar face tariffs of
Shinzo Abe said “it sends to one third of the world that major free trade deals First” motto will be at odds some 30 percent to enter
a strong message to the economy. are something of the past. with many others. the Japanese market.
world” and both lead- Since it was a political “Some are saying that the If Trump decries former U.S. And the special name
ers will be able to make agreement — meaning time of isolationism and deals with international status of EU foods, from Ti-
that point when they are some details have to still be disintegration is coming partners as disasters that roler Speck to Camembert
at Group of 20 summit of filled in — the timing of the again, we are demonstrat- cost American jobs and cheese, Munchener beer
world leaders in Hamburg, deal after four years of talks ing that this is not the case,” money, the EU and Japan and Polish vodka, will be
Germany, on Friday. was key. said Tusk. are already highlighting protected. q

EU parliament advises freeze of Turkey’s membership talks

By SUZAN FRASER referendum in April that decide whether or not it will criticized as a dispropor- us, we will return it to the
Associated Press approved constitutional walk with Turkey,” he said. tionate response. (European Parliament)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — amendments to give the The EU has been con- “This Parliament speaks with without making any assess-
The European Parliament president sweeping new cerned by declining hu- one and clear and loud ments,” Celik told reporters.
has advised the European powers. man rights, media free- voice in condemning the Before the vote, Celik said
Union to freeze acces- The parliament called on doms and rule of law issues Turkish government’s seri- the decision would go
sion talks with Turkey amid the EU’s 28 states to formally in Turkey. Frequent com- ous decline in democratic down in history as a “terri-
growing concerns over the suspend the talks “without ments by President Recep standards,” said Kati Piri, ble mistake” and that Euro-
country’s human rights and delay” if the constitutional Tayyip Erdogan vowing to who prepared Thursday’s pean lawmakers should be
democracy. Turkey reject- reforms are implemented re-instate the death pen- report. Omer Celik, the min- standing in solidarity with
ed Thursday’s move, call- without change in Turkey. alty have also raised alarm. ister in charge of relations Turkey following last year’s
ing it an attempt to “sabo- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Turkey embarked on an un- with the EU, slammed the failed coup attempt.
tage” relations with the EU. Yildirim said what mattered precedented crackdown report as “geared toward The minister also said Turkey
The legislature voted 477- was the opinion of EU lead- in the aftermath of last sabotaging relations” and would never accept any
64 with 97 abstentions to ers and that there was no year’s failed military coup said Turkey would consider proposal to reformulate EU-
approve a non-binding change in Turkey’s aim for attempt, arresting some it “null and void” as it has Turkish ties through a series
report recommending the EU membership. 50,000 people and dismiss- done with equivalent re- of agreements on immigra-
suspension of the negotia- “The EU should determine ing tens of thousands civil ports in the past. tion, combating terrorism
tions in the wake Turkey’s its vision for its future and servants, which the EU has “When the report reaches and trade.q