Lotus Puppy
17-12-2005, 21:49
I've heard that Doha is a lovely town. The trade round by that name, however, is a disaster.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-12-17T161619Z_01_MOL758506_RTRUKOC_0_UK-TRADE-WTO-TALKS.xml&archived=False
The poorest nations in the world are threatening a walk out if the EU does not compromise on farm subsidies. The current conference at Hong Kong is perhaps a make-or-break conference for advancement in free trade, and its failure will set free trade back several years.
What baffles me is that agriculture remains the slowest sector to liberalize. Japan, probably the worst offender, gives out subsidies equivilant to 40% of a farmer's income. What's so hard about the industrialized world giving in a bit? I understand the arguement to protect food supplies, but what about cash crops? The US, for instance, is the largest exporter of cotton in the world, but not because it is cheap. Instead, it is heavily subsidized. Our clothing would be a lot cheaper if the US ended these subsidies, and it put more money in the hands of farmers that can grow the stuff cheaper. Same with the EU's sugar subsidies, which smother those that can produce sugar for cheaper.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-12-17T161619Z_01_MOL758506_RTRUKOC_0_UK-TRADE-WTO-TALKS.xml&archived=False
The poorest nations in the world are threatening a walk out if the EU does not compromise on farm subsidies. The current conference at Hong Kong is perhaps a make-or-break conference for advancement in free trade, and its failure will set free trade back several years.
What baffles me is that agriculture remains the slowest sector to liberalize. Japan, probably the worst offender, gives out subsidies equivilant to 40% of a farmer's income. What's so hard about the industrialized world giving in a bit? I understand the arguement to protect food supplies, but what about cash crops? The US, for instance, is the largest exporter of cotton in the world, but not because it is cheap. Instead, it is heavily subsidized. Our clothing would be a lot cheaper if the US ended these subsidies, and it put more money in the hands of farmers that can grow the stuff cheaper. Same with the EU's sugar subsidies, which smother those that can produce sugar for cheaper.