Opinion: Goodbye TTIP! And now that? – Deutsche Welle

A wide range of organizations called to manifest this Sept. 17 against TTIP and CETA, the free trade agreements that the EU projects with EE. UU. and Canada respectively. They have joined church groups, non-governmental organizations, associations, and even the emerging right-wing populist party AfD. Although the organizers could simply save the effort. People could stay home, as the TTIP not come. At least not in the coming years.

That was fair the German Minister of Economics the first representative of the current coalition government in publicly admit it is something that we owe to their party affiliation. Gabriel is also minister, leader of the German Social Democrats and his party, especially the left wing of his party seethes every time we talk about TTIP and CETA.

As the Minister it has already made clear which aims to enforce the treaty already negotiated with Canada (CETA), now it seems to want to curry favor with their comrades dead giving the TTIP. Clear and pure campaign rhetoric who wants to save his skin.

Henrik Böhme, writing of Economics DW.

Controversial guardian of employment

Gabriel is presented as the minister who fight to protect jobs in Germany. With that spurious motivation overlooked recently numerous antitrust objections and approved the merger of supermarket chains Edeka and Kaisers-Tengelmann a process which currently holds the German Supreme Court.

Now, as economy minister one of the most important exporting nations in the world, Gabriel buries a free-trade agreement with a major trading partners, and suddenly it seems that the jobs are not as important. Please! How hypocritical is that?

That the TTIP is, de facto, buried or not is thanks to the many detractors, which is opposed with all fervor, especially in Germany, or Sigmar Gabriel, who blames the failure to Americans.

Just at this point the minister might be right, because everyone knows that EE. UU. he is campaigning. Donald Trump is an avowed enemy of free trade nor Hillary Clinton has excelled so far with statements in favor of TTIP. Unlike. Although an advocate of free trade is declared, must take into account the many supporters of Bernie Sanders, his opponent in the Democratic Party.

Losers of globalization

here is the true heart of the matter: many American supporters -those Sanders, but especially those of Trump- see themselves as victims of globalization. And the Germans protesters actually do not mind both the free trade agreement as a fairer globalization.

Globalization has certainly generated winners and losers. In many Western countries, the losers have been abandoned to their fate. This will won sympathies to populist and has reverted to an increase in protectionism.

Meanwhile, seeks to return some production to industrialized countries, as economic development and can produce certain goods here less It costs in countries where labor is cheaper. How? totally disregarding the people. If not, you are asked to Adidas sporting goods producer, which already does with shoes that are no longer produced in Vietnam to pass “hands” of a German factory robots. Where does all this say?

What is the alternative?

The idea, however, that the world bid farewell to the free trade spooky. What does that mean for developing countries to unstable emerging countries, for an exporting nation like Germany? Hillary Clinton said it, in a way, with the rhetorical question to his audience on why precision machines have to come from Germany if the United States has the best workers in the world.

The TTIP has dead! Critics of the planned agreement can celebrate. What is now the alternative? Take the path is taken, it would be for Europe -of locked itself in crisis the worst of all conceivable variations

To learn. You can read
 here the version of this editorial in German

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  100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

  Welcome to South America

  The old brochures Shipping Company American Hamburg (Hamburg Süd) invite you to cross the Atlantic. The firm, created in 1871, showed immigrants, tourists and merchants in Germany the beauties and opportunities in Latin America.

   


 
 
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  100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

  LAV Traders States

  Hamburg Süd was one of the founding firms, in 1916, the Business Association for

Latin America (LAV, its acronym in German). As the Cap Polonio, their ships made the journey between Hamburg and South American ports.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Coffee and snuff

Many of the early members of LAV had interest from the nineteenth century in Latin America, such as the signing Louis Delius, Bremen. The company originally imported and exported coffee and snuff fabrics and machinery. In its warehouses in the port of Bremen, he received the products brought from South America.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Networking

Looking to combine the interests of German companies in Latin America , serve as a networking and information exchange and create instances, promoted LAV trips authorities and traders. After World War II, they served to restore ties. In the photo, the visit of a commission of Colombian businessmen to Hamburg in 1958.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Gala dinners

The most important annual event of LAV, instituted in 1923 is the Day of Latin America or Lateinamerika Tag (LAT). At first, it was also social gathering and vehicle for closer ties with its gala dinners, like this TAF 1950, at the Atlantic Hotel in Hamburg.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Quotations summit

Over time, the Day of Latin America has become in an economic forum citing high German and Latin American authorities. In 1954, the then president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Theodor Heuss, and the president of LAV, Heinrich Waitz, entering the hotel Atlantic for the gala dinner LAT.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Parade of Latin American presidents

At first, the keynote speaker was a German authority, but from the usual 90 ans ministers and American presidents, who already make a long and strong list they were made. Day Latin America has had Hugo Chavez, Jose Mujica, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Cristina Fernández and Michelle Bachelet (pictured), among many other presidents.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Guests of honor

In 2007, the guest of honor was the President of Panama Martin Torrijos. Since the 90s, the Day of Latin America actually consists of two days of work of delegations and authorities as well as conference president invited. headquarters each year between Hamburg and some other German city is currently alternates.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Direct Dialogue

The annual event is the time to strengthen the exchange, clear concerns and pave the way for futras investments. The presence of high authorities confirms the good standing of trade relations between Germany and Latin America. 2009 was the turn of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil.

 

 
 

 
 

100 years Lateinamerika Verein – LAV

Business Meeting

Delegations and authorities meet once a year in Germany but work and collaboration continues permanently. The traditional dinner of Latin America Day is a time to celebrate the good relations between these partners, the Business Association for Latin America has been able to foster in a century of life.

 Author: Victoria Dannemann (ER)