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**Matt W** · Jul 6, 2005, 05:59 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4652991.stm

Quote:

US cotton subsidies which have fuelled a long-running trade dispute with other countries are to be scrapped, the Bush administration has revealed.
The US government will ask Congress to pass legislation to repeal subsidy programmes after the World Trade Organization ruled they were illegal.

The move came on the same day that Brazil threatened to raise tariffs on US imports in retaliation.

A step in the right direction - certainly something to put on the table at the G8 summit as evidence of a willingness to shift on positions.

Mr.Vicchio · Jul 6, 2005, 06:22 am

True but trade practices with many countries are hosed. Some by our practices, some by thiers. Isn't France trying to push a measure to punish the US for having an unfair advantage due to lower taxes then the EU? I remember reading something like that last year. They were in a real huff over it.

G. Adams · Jul 6, 2005, 06:31 am

Ignore the French, there is change in the EU air at the moment, and I think the Franco-German powerbase is going to give way to British ideas. Blair better be serious when he talks about looking to the end of CAP, it's disgusting that we still have such outdated and damaging policies such as agricultural subsidies. The only thing I think we should plug money into, if anything, is high quality organic products, to try and encourage farmers to improve quality for once, instead of quantity.

Edit - I should have also added that those organic products should be goods that we are well suited to our climate, preferably native products, so that others can export their own local goods to Europe without worrying about facing a disadvantage. I would also suggest only allowing subsidised food to stay in the EU, so that we don't give ourselves advantages when exporting.

tman_ndsu08 · Jul 6, 2005, 12:42 pm

Who cares about cotton?

As if we even manufacture clothing goods in this country anymore.

**Matt W** · Jul 6, 2005, 12:54 pm

The Brazilians obviously care about it...and so did the US government, to have illegal tariffs there in the first place.

Jul 6, 2005, 06:22 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Mr.Vicchio Navy Veteran Location: Texas Posts: 6,335	True but trade practices with many countries are hosed. Some by our practices, some by thiers. Isn't France trying to push a measure to punish the US for having an unfair advantage due to lower taxes then the EU? I remember reading something like that last year. They were in a real huff over it. Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" is still being challenged to this day, but by consensus Global Warming is a fact... that's REAL science at work, why didn't Albert just go that route?

Jul 6, 2005, 06:31 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
G. Adams Fyrdman Location: Middlesbrough UK Posts: 4,174	Ignore the French, there is change in the EU air at the moment, and I think the Franco-German powerbase is going to give way to British ideas. Blair better be serious when he talks about looking to the end of CAP, it's disgusting that we still have such outdated and damaging policies such as agricultural subsidies. The only thing I think we should plug money into, if anything, is high quality organic products, to try and encourage farmers to improve quality for once, instead of quantity. Edit - I should have also added that those organic products should be goods that we are well suited to our climate, preferably native products, so that others can export their own local goods to Europe without worrying about facing a disadvantage. I would also suggest only allowing subsidised food to stay in the EU, so that we don't give ourselves advantages when exporting. Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill Last edited by G. Adams; Jul 6, 2005 at 06:33 am.

Jul 6, 2005, 12:54 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 7,107	The Brazilians obviously care about it...and so did the US government, to have illegal tariffs there in the first place. I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 6, 2005, 12:42 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	Who cares about cotton? As if we even manufacture clothing goods in this country anymore.