
sandyf
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Trump Eyes Wave of New Trade Deals Amid 90-Day Tariff Pause
sandyf replied to Social Media's topic in World News
There is a saying based on a wooden horse. "The concerns have been raised after sources close to the Trump administration claimed vice-president JD Vance wants the UK to repeal hate speech laws and ditch plans for a new online safety law in exchange for a trade deal that could see the UK avoid tariffs." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/trump-free-speech-trade-deal-online-safety-b2734397.html?lid=7g2u8hk0ed8c&utm_medium=email&utm_source=braze&utm_campaign=Morning Headlines Newsletter 17-04-2025&utm_term=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP&empar=3ecb0a14961159ae2d4bc396450ec9796a1489f400e007e352cda343bc7b577c -
Trump Eyes Wave of New Trade Deals Amid 90-Day Tariff Pause
sandyf replied to Social Media's topic in World News
One can only hope that it is none, any that have signed have been conned. From the AI. TTIP and ISDS: The proposed TTIP between the US and EU sparked a debate about ISDS, with the EU initially proposing a permanent investment court and the US advocating for ISDS, which has been a common feature in many trade agreements. EU's perspective: The EU, while supporting ISDS in general, expressed concerns about its potential impact on the ability of governments to regulate in the public interest and sought to reform the system, potentially through a permanent investment court. US's perspective: The US viewed ISDS as vital for protecting investors' rights and the enforceability of trade agreements. Negotiation Status: The TTIP negotiations, which were ongoing for several years, ultimately ended without a finalized agreement, including a resolution on ISDS. Current Status: There is no formal trade agreement between the US and EU that includes ISDS. -
China Halts Critical Exports as Trade War Intensifies
sandyf replied to placeholder's topic in Political Soapbox
“There are some scarce products [in gaming] that we wanted bigger allocations of than anyone could provide and suddenly we’re getting them because the stuff that was heading towards the US is now available,” he said. https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/04/currys-boss-trump-tariffs/ -
China Halts Critical Exports as Trade War Intensifies
sandyf replied to placeholder's topic in Political Soapbox
Trump is a bully and that mentality does not see the opponent hitting back very hard. There are reoprts emerging that China has cancelled aircraft from Boeing. If true they would have had to see a positive outcome for such a move. Shares of Boeing fell Tuesday following a report that China has halted the delivery of all its jets to airlines in the country as part of an escalating trade war that has enveloped the world’s two biggest economies. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/15/business/boeing-china-deliveries/index.html -
There is a significant difference between someone having a TM30 and someone just arriving. Under what would have been normal circumstances the address would have already been notified to immigration on a TM6. One day there may well be a cross check on that. The needs of an individual shouldn't be confused with the responsibilities of others and it is not helpful for anyone to be advocating to ignore the law.
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Half of US soldiers to potentially pull out of Europe.
sandyf replied to bannork's topic in Political Soapbox
The US will block anything not in their interest, irrespective of the consequences. The most dangerous nation on the planet. -
Yes the OA & OX but not run of the mill visas and not very popular due to the health requirements. The 12 month ME Non O hasn't been available in most countries for some time, so I say again, I am sure many will be interested in where you think they can be obtained. I will also say again, if you want to believe that a SE visa is still active after you enter, feel free.
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Half of US soldiers to potentially pull out of Europe.
sandyf replied to bannork's topic in Political Soapbox
You really should do the homework before making such ludicrous statements. You seem to forget that Bush conned Blair into taking the UK to war against the will of the population. Nothing more than a US face saving exercise where British forces were killed by US pilots, justice was never served and the US population should be hanging their heads in shame. Time all US forces packed their bags and went back to where they came from, world would be far better off. -
Half of US soldiers to potentially pull out of Europe.
sandyf replied to bannork's topic in Political Soapbox
Been on the table for a long time. The European project was a few votes from launching as a military project rather than an economic one. The idea of a common European force was revived in the 1990s as the European Union was formed, but the concept lost favor due to U.S. opposition and commitment to NATO. https://www.csis.org/analysis/why-its-time-reconsider-european-army#:~:text=Europe on paper has nearly,Europe collectively a military power. -
Bit of an unhelpful answer. Following your suggestion it would then be necessary to provide a city in country of passport and a telephone number in country of passport; are you saying just make things up. I don't have a problem but there may well be those that do and possibly reluctant to be telling porkies. The paper TM6 did not ask this information, just an address in Thailand. It is a significant difference and could be awkward for those that renew visas in neighbouring countries. Time will tell, it always does.
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Steve Jobs explained to President Obama in 2011 why iphones could not be made in the US and nothing has changed. It is all about labour aptitude and attitude, rather than labour costs. Asians don't have the same aversion to repetitive work as in the western world with greater dexterity and efficiency.
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How stupid is China for retaliating to Trumps tariffs?
sandyf replied to hotsun's topic in Political Soapbox
It would be foolish to ignore a relationship between the tariffs, Ukraine and Greenland, a bigger plan in play. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/2820750/chinas-polar-silk-road-implications-for-the-arctic-region/ -
How stupid is China for retaliating to Trumps tariffs?
sandyf replied to hotsun's topic in Political Soapbox
A lot smarter than you want to think. China has it's sights on the Artic Silk Road, Putin wants to put a stop to it and Trump wants to help his mate out. No guesses on who the major loser will be, but we will all suffer in one way or another along the road. -
China Halts Critical Exports as Trade War Intensifies
sandyf replied to placeholder's topic in Political Soapbox
And elsewhere Now, EU and Chinese officials are holding talks over existing trade barriers and considering a full-fledged summit in China in July. https://theconversation.com/in-trade-war-with-the-us-china-holds-a-lot-more-cards-than-trump-may-think-in-fact-it-might-have-a-winning-hand-254173 -
I don't go to BKK very often maybe a couple of times a year, have never had a problem getting the senior fare even when alone. We went to VFS a couple of weeks ago for wife's visa and they wouldn't give the senior fare for me even with her buying the tickets. It's no big deal for me and people should bear in mind other countries are beginning to look at how much public money is being given to foreign nationals.
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One analyst estimates that on labor wages alone, a U.S.-made iPhone could cost 25% more than they do now. Another analyst pegged the price of a stars-and-stripes iPhone at $3,500. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/heres-how-much-a-made-in-the-usa-iphone-would-cost.html#:~:text=One analyst estimates that on,and-stripes iPhone at %243%2C500.
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Thailand had a fraction of the deaths from covid compared to most western countries and you want to make an issue over masks. See where your priority lies.
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If YouTube satisfies your desires, so be it.
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There is no trust in perception, it is an individuals assessment. I don't see the need for the pontification over masks, it is another individual assessment. The Thai bashers want to make a mountain out of a molehill just for the sake of it and the covid skeptics don't want to admit that alot was learned from the outbreak.
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Of course you have, visas don't disappear. A SE visa is annotated "used" the day you enter the country and will remain on your travel history for evermore. A ME visa would be annotated "used" on expiry. The form TM47 requires you put the last visa number used to enter the country. Of course you may well use an office that does not insist on the visa numbers.
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It is all about perception, if you don't want to see it you won't.