EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy backs Angela Merkel's Transatlantic Free Trade Area proposal "110%". Only, according to Der Tagesspiegel, Merkel didn't propose anything nearly that far-reaching. She was only suggesting an arrangement providng for "common technical standards and patent laws".
Whew! Sure, a free trade area could be good for both the EU and the US, but I'm not so sure Ireland would benefit from such an opening. Ireland is doing all right as a sort of door way to the EU for American firms. Why mess with success? Maybe when things turn a little sour I'd be more receptive, but for now, "Pipe down, Charlie".
