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Comment by ghaff | Hacker News Reader

>If I were France I would start bricking up the chunnel tomorrow.

Why? Out of pique? Out of being disrespected? Out of a general tit for tat?

I don't agree with the UK voters today (from my safe spot of not being a UK voter) but it seems pretty silly for the EU or countries within the EU to treat this vote--assuming it goes ahead--as a petulant child would, damn the consequences. They should and probably will make a rational response based on their own interests whether or not they're "annoyed" or whatever the word is with the UK.

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>> .. a rational response based on their own interests.

The EU was specifically meant to prevent countries taking actions in their own interest, to stop them from putting their own interests above those of other countries. Now that is done and France can act in France's interests, which probably aren't exactly the same as Britain's. They are now free to make the rational decision to, for example, place tariffs on British goods so as to protect French manufacturers.

So, what you are saying, is that France will put its own interests before the interests of the other EU countries that might benefit from trade with the UK?

Great for European unity, I see.

As a non-French member of the EU, I will fully support France in their decision (and hope my nation takes a similar route).

The UK never believed in the EU and only wanted the good side of it. It's better for everyone that they'll be gone. There was no European Union if a selfish state didn't want to be united in the bad things too.

If the EU as a whole decides for a new trade agreement with the UK, that's fine (See? Unity), but I think they won't since the EU has strong motivation to slap back the UK.

And then we place tarrifs on all French goods.

French know this will happen, so they don't do that.

The UK needs the EU market more than the EU market needs the UK. The EU has strong incentives to place tariffs.

Wait until Berlin replaces London as an economic hub.

Economic war will ensue and we'll all lose.

"strong incentives" What incentives? I only see negatives from this.

> Why? Out of pique? Out of being disrespected? Out of a general tit for tat?

When negotiating, you never let a position of power go to waste.

That's right, you should abuse the hell out of whatever small edge you've got, so that negotiations promptly end.

Negotiations only end when someone walks away. The party with less power can't walk away.

That... isn't how any of this works. The reason you're negotiating in the first place is because each side is holding chips. If the weaker side had to give in to the stronger's every demand, it would not be called negotiation.

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