Trade Deal, or No Deal...

[Roslynmuse]

I blame Monty Python:

On the other hand, I've had success sourcing parrots and larches...

[french frank]

On the other hand, I've had success sourcing parrots and larches...

What about the fork handles? Oops! wrong programme!

[Bryn]

On the other hand, I've had success sourcing parrots and larches...

Rather fond of Feta but it has to b made from the milk of a truly avian ovine.

[cloughie]

Last time I visited Waitrose in Truro they had had a good selection of Cornish cheeses as well as plenty of other local products, whereas our local Waitrose is pretty weak on Suffolk local produce. Not a Cheshire-type cheese, but the Cornish Gouda struck me as especially tasty.

Yes but maybe the bonus of Truro Waitrose is its sharing of its entrance with The Cornish Store which is as the name suggests is a specialist foodstore for Cornish products including a well stocked cheese counter and deli and butchery and fish counter. I rarely go there a come out empty handed!
The Cornish Gouda with cumin is very good.

[oddoneout]

It's strange, isn't it. There are plenty of evil-textured, tasteless cheeses (pre-packed) to be had but a nice bit of crumbly, ever-so-slightly salty, moist Cheshire - not a hope.

The Lidl here often has its own brand(Valley Spire) Cheshire cheese in stock. I think that the combination of a mild taste and crumbly texture isn't so popular now, which is why it's not seen as much.

[oddoneout]

There are tested tactics for dealing with situations of this kind, involving worker occupations to stop removal of machinery. Were it not for the fact that we have such a restricted view of trade unionism in this country and more generally - wages and conditions at work being the extent of its purview - workforces could be being organised to do whatever might be done with the skills and productive means available in firms threatening to jump ship. 'Twas always thus. Back in the 1970s when redundancy threatened, Lucas Aerospace's shop stewards' combines linked together across the firrm and out to suppliers and clients to come up with alternative products which would serve un-met social needs while being profitable on capitalist criteria - market research having been undertaken. The result was that the TUC said words to the effect that "that's not our province, management is paid huge salaries to come up with new product, not us", and the CP - which then still carried weight at the stewards and local trades council levels - just went along with this "economistic" position, demonstrating how reformist they had become - marginalising Tony Benn, who had declared his support, in the Labour Government Cabinet at the time.

Just think of all the ideas bottled up, just waiting for someone to take the initiative for a Green/trade union/Labour coalition to consider the possibilities and come up with alternative plans! "Under Starmer?" I hear you cry?

Not sure it's quite the same situation though? Many of these companies are keeping at least part of their business in the UK and have made it clear they would prefer to have it all here if the exporting hurdles are sorted out. Some of them had planned or were in the process of expanding in the UK and keeping or creating jobs, but the costs and difficulties caused by Brexit threatened the financial success and thus the future of the business and meant that alternative arrangements had to be found. Many of these companies have already done the 'finding alternative products/new markets' process and are (or were pre-Brexit) succeeding so why should they have to do it again? Especially given that the current government will doubtless continue to scupper initiatives through its ignorance and arrogance.

[gradus]

Not sure it's quite the same situation though? Many of these companies are keeping at least part of their business in the UK and have made it clear they would prefer to have it all here if the exporting hurdles are sorted out. Some of them had planned or were in the process of expanding in the UK and keeping or creating jobs, but the costs and difficulties caused by Brexit threatened the financial success and thus the future of the business and meant that alternative arrangements had to be found. Many of these companies have already done the 'finding alternative products/new markets' process and are (or were pre-Brexit) succeeding so why should they have to do it again? Especially given that the current government will doubtless continue to scupper initiatives through its ignorance and arrogance.

I hope (but have no great faith) that in all the talk of new economic recovery and new directions for industry some active consideration is given to re-establishing British shipbuilding. There is no realistic alternative to world trade in physical goods and commodities being carried by merchant ships and once Covid is factored into our lives, taking holidays on cruise ships will continue. If Italy and Germany can build ships, this Island can again.

[oddoneout]

I hope (but have no great faith) that in all the talk of new economic recovery and new directions for industry some active consideration is given to re-establishing British shipbuilding. There is no realistic alternative to world trade in physical goods and commodities being carried by merchant ships and once Covid is factored into our lives, taking holidays on cruise ships will continue. If Italy and Germany can build ships, this Island can again.

Well it would give a reason for keeping the British steel industry going, not least as I read a while back that there have been concerns expressed about the quality of Chinese steel that has been so widely used in recent years.

[Frances_iom]

...not least as I read a while back that there have been concerns expressed about the quality of Chinese steel that has been so widely used in recent years.

There is a well known problem with the way that Chinese industry is run - very short term thinking with any approach taken to maximise profits - see https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/...ess-challenge/ - it means constant checks need be made on suppliers