Bush at it again, more protectionism

[Saint Marcus]

Yep, Bush is now going to sign a new bill that will increase federal spending in the American agricultural sector, including extra funding for companies promoting american food and drink products abroad.

IS Bush really right wing? He's acting as a French socialist.

Of course, the whole world objects, but the Americans ignore criticism (like with the steel thing).

[Carver]

And while the US protecs its industries, the IMF and World Bank force their Third World "clients" to remove all price subsidies and tarriffs and open their markets to First World competition. The farm subsidies throughout the developed world cost more than US$300 billion a year. People in the First World pay more and people in the Third World can't farm economically.

Welcome the the unipolar world of American hegemony...enjoy!

[Urban Ranger]

Is farm subsidies something that can be argued in WTO?

[Plan Austral]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Is farm subsidies something that can be argued in WTO?

Yes, we are going to demand the USA.
It is not a joke.


It worked with Chile but the USA....

[Urban Ranger]

Ah well, if the USA can increase farm subsidies so can everybody else, right?

[Plan Austral]

Something that really annoyed us are the raise in the subsidies to agriculture by the USA, 180.000 millions in 10 years.That will really **** us, Argentina and Brazil are together the most important producers of food in the world, and we dont have subsidies.Argentina even has retentions over the agricultural exportations.

The same goes for Europe, if your farmers are not competitive and you are protectionist in agriculture, why do you ask us to have open markets?


But in my opinion, the USA is not as guilty as the European Union, the subsidies of the USA are a direct response (not vice versa) to the 300.000 millions that the EU spent.



The subsidies in Europe are connected with Politics. And emotional reasons. Even though it's obvious that agriculture in the EU is a waste of resources (Australia, Argentina and even the US do it better and cheaper), europeans are afraid to become "dependent of foreign countries" when it comes to foodstuffs - as if they weren't already. Also, the countryside looks neater and prettier with little sheep and cows playing around.
So the europeans keep on artificially maintaining an agriculture that is little more than a waste of money.

The saddest thing is that probably the EU will react to the increase of the American subsidies by increasing their own subsidies.

Which means they're scrapping the Uruguay Round agreements on agriculture, which called for an end to those subsidies by 2025 if I recollect properly.
Jeesh, if they keep scrapping treaties like this very soon we'll be heading back to the jungle to hunt for each other's heads.

[Provost Harrison]

Time for economic sanctions methinks

[Solly]

[Saint Marcus]

Argentina and Brazil are together the most important producers of food in the world

And Holland. We're one of the world's biggest agricultural products exporters.

Time for economic sanctions methinks

At this rate, soon there won't be anything left to sanction on.



Can someone tell me why people still think Bush is a right winger?

[Provost Harrison]

Who is your '' referring to Stew?

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus


And Holland. We're one of the world's biggest agricultural products exporters.

True, you sell lots of tulips

Can someone tell me why people still think Bush is a right winger?

Even under the likes of Reagan protectionism has been abundant. These people do not stick to principles but do their utmost to protect themselves. The thing about the US is that it espouses these economic principles and expects everyone else to adhere to them, yet ignores them itself. To the US, it is a case of 'I'm wearing the strap-on, the rest of the world, bend over!'

[Saint Marcus]

True, you sell lots of tulips

Yep, we're the biggest flower exporter in the world, and export lots of other agriproducts too.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Kublai-Khan
The same goes for Europe, if your farmers are not competitive and you are protectionist in agriculture, why do you ask us to have open markets?

To screw you, of course. Globalization and free markets are all about what's best for imperialism. D'uh!

[Saint Marcus]

The same goes for Europe, if your farmers are not competitive and you are protectionist in agriculture, why do you ask us to have open markets?

Agricultural subsidies will be reformed here before the EU expands. The subsidies offered are likely to become far lower than they are now (if we can persuade france that is).

[Akka]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus


Agricultural subsidies will be reformed here before the EU expands. The subsidies offered are likely to become far lower than they are now (if we can persuade france that is).

You want to PERSUADE a French to do something ??





Good luck...