[kristianc]

> One would think that the EU would be in a better position to get better deals than a single country.

One would think, but the EU has been trying and failing to secure any kind of a trade deal with the US, largely due to Europe's instinctive love of protectionism.

[hkt]

protectionism/standards.

Remember, our cheese doesn't come out of a tube, usually.

[kristianc]

If I was French I'd be convinced that our finest Brillat-savarin would outcompete anything that came out of a tube.

I don't think it's a lack of plastic cheese alternatives that has people buying French cheese.

[robin_reala]

I was going to use Primula as a counter-example, but then I remembered it’s Norwegian.