Topic: Organ Trade

Conservative MP Ian Duncan Smith stated that the European Union is panicking over the UK's potential competitiveness post-Brexit. The UK is prepared to move to World Trade Organization (WTO) terms if a favorable "Canada-style" trade deal is not reached. Proponents of a hard Brexit point to the UK's 100 billion pound trade deficit in goods with the EU as a point of leverage.

Brexit negotiations remain stalled over a "divorce bill" estimated between $23 billion and $70 billion. Economists warn that reverting to World Trade Organization rules could result in a 40% drop in trade with the EU over a decade. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has suggested a second referendum as public opinion potentially shifts.

The hosts discuss the progression of globalism through trade agreements like NAFTA and the TPP, comparing them to the evolution of the European Union. They argue that these organizations supersede national sovereignty and are run by "technocrats." Adam Curry recommends Jacques Ellul's book "The Technological Society" as a guide to understanding this shift.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Seattle to finalize a $38 billion deal for 300 Boeing aircraft, which includes an agreement to build a 737 completion center in China. This move is criticized as a violation of World Trade Organization agreements that forbid requiring work placement in exchange for jet sales. The hosts note that the mainstream media has largely ignored the "shipping jobs overseas" aspect of the story, which aligns with Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric.

The hosts note the start of the Lunar Year of the Snake, referencing historical disasters associated with the cycle. They also question the necessity of a new free trade agreement between the U.S. and the EU, suggesting it is a move toward further global centralization.

Congress debates granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to Russia as it joins the WTO. Senator Max Baucus argues the deal is a "one-way street" benefiting US exporters, while Senator Jon Kyl opposes it on human rights grounds and Russia's failure to protect intellectual property. The hosts mock the use of human rights as a political tool given US incarceration rates.

The World Trade Organization is monitoring the competitive landscape between Airbus and Boeing as European governments provide subsidies to Airbus. The aircraft delivery process involves staged payments as the plane moves through the assembly line, culminating in "green" status before final painting. Official handovers occur only after electronic confirmation of multi-million dollar funds.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a verbal slip by referring to the global economic state as a "depression" rather than a "recession" during a speech on protectionism. Another gaffe is revisited where Brown claimed to have "saved the world" during a parliamentary session. The segment briefly mentions the Doha Agreement as a trade mechanism intended to open global markets.

The Codex Alimentarius, a set of international food standards established by the World Trade Organization, is being implemented in Europe and the UK. Critics argue the code is a pharmaceutical industry plot to outlaw high-potency vitamins and organic supplements. The hosts express concern that the "nanny state" will eventually criminalize the possession of common supplements like Vitamin C.