- Title: Merkel warns against protectionist responses to globalisation
- Date: 15th November 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 15, 2016) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL GOING ON STAGE TO ADDRESS MEETING OF BDA (GERMAN EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION) PHOTOGRAPHER PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "Globalisation is a reality and we can shape it in such a way that we strengthen multilateral instruments - which we achieved partly with our financial market regulations. These still need to be developed but a lot has happened in the last years. - Or we seal ourselves off and become protectionist, and each individual tries to keep as much of his own national product as possible. I am pleased that you, like me, are convinced that we must fashion globalisation in a multilateral way." CAMERA FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "So, at the moment I feel that there is an argument that we as Europeans have a fundamental interest - we are trying with the North American market, in the case of CETA with Canada and potentially with the United States - that we Europeans have a fundamental interest in setting the standards with the American continent for the future shape of globalisation and that it doesn't end in free-trade agreements between China and other Asian states. I am of the firm opinion that this is our chance." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "Were we to make an exception for Britain in the case of freedom of movement, then this would mean that we would endanger the basic principles of the whole domestic market of the European Union because then everyone would want to make exceptions." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We must not rock the basic principle of freedom of movement and it is a paradox that it was the British who spent years attacking us for claiming transition-solutions with Poland and other Eastern European countries and today they are the ones who are complaining that they did not take advantage of the transition rules and now want to limit the freedom of movement throughout the whole of Europe. This will not happen! We are ready to take part in fair negotiations but then Britain must make clear on what basis it wants Brexit, that the prime minister says will happen by March next year." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LISTENING MERKEL LEAVING PODIUM
- Embargoed: 30th November 2016 12:53
- Keywords: Brexit Germany Merkel Trump protectionism Immigration
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA00158K2GJR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday (November 15) for globalisation to be framed in multilateral agreements rather than see countries adopt protectionist measures, in a thinly veiled warning to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
In his campaign, Trump argued that international trade agreements had hurt U.S. workers and the country's competitiveness. He has promised to "get tough" with China and withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which is still not finalized.
Merkel, having last week offered to work with Trump on the basis of democratic values, used a speech to set out the case for strengthening international cooperation in the field of trade and avoiding a slide into protectionism.
Merkel told a meeting of Germany's BDA employers association that Germany and all of Europe "is at the moment in a situation in the European Union, in our country and worldwide where there is an argument about how we want to shape globalisation."
"Globalisation is a reality and we can shape it in such a way that we strengthen multilateral instruments... or we seal ourselves off and become protectionist."
"I am pleased that you, like me, are convinced that we must fashion globalisation in a multilateral way," added Merkel.
She said she would make globalisation a theme for debate during Germany's presidency of the G20 next year.
Merkel was the driving force in Europe behind the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an ambitious trade deal between the European Union and United States).
That agreement, still in the negotiation phase, seems sure to die under Trump, whose protectionist promises, should they become reality, would hit few countries harder than Germany, whose economic strength depends heavily on the openness of the global trading system.
Merkel also used her speech to warn Britain against trying to set precedents in the freedom of movement regulations within the European Union.
"Were we to make an exception for Britain in the case of freedom of movement, then this would mean that we would endanger the basic principles of the whole domestic market of the European Union because then everyone would want to make exceptions," Merkel said.
"We are ready to take part in fair negotiations but then Britain must make clear on what basis it wants Brexit," she added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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