Bush War on Roquefort and Other Stuff You Want

As reported in today's Washington Post, the exiting administration placed duties on certain European food stuffs that are high enough to remove them from the shelves:

"The measure, announced Jan. 13 by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab as she headed out the door, was designed as retaliation for a European Union ban on imports of U.S. beef containing hormones. Tit for tat, and all perfectly legal under World Trade Organization rules, U.S. officials explained.

Besides, they said, Roquefort is only one of dozens of European luxury products that were attacked with high tariffs. The list includes, among other things, French truffles, Irish oatmeal, Italian sparkling water and "fatty livers of ducks and geese," which apparently is how Washington trade bureaucrats say foie gras."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... id=artslot

That's pretty outrageous! Who decided which "luxury" foods were to be included? This is very infair to individual purveyors ( like the Roquefort and Irish Oatmeal makers). The beef ban is due to the hormones- not just randomly picking on foods to tax.

Stock up on Steel Cut Oatmeal while you can, folks...
Deb

[Robin Garr]

This looks like an overtly political gesture (middle finger?) by the departing Bushies that one hopes the Obama administration would not agree with at all. Chances are we'll see a pretty quick reversal, particularly if it gets a lot of negative publicity.

That's pretty outrageous! Who decided which "luxury" foods were to be included? This is very infair to individual purveyors ( like the Roquefort and Irish Oatmeal makers). The beef ban is due to the hormones- not just randomly picking on foods to tax.

Stock up on Steel Cut Oatmeal while you can, folks...
Deb

It's hard to imagine anyone being shocked by this latest bit of proof that GWB was the worst president in the nation's history.

It's hard to imagine anyone being shocked by this latest bit of proof that GWB was the worst president in the nation's history.

Roger, I don't want to get into a political battle here but that's your opinion, mine differs. He certainly wasn't the best but I really think there are a few others in the not too distant past that were much worse.

I'll take my chances with a President who drinks. No more from me. He's gone, and I'm grateful.

I'm with you on this one Roger. And by his abysmal approval rating Bush had I would say a large percentage of the country agrees.

[quote="Robin Garr"]This looks like an overtly political gesture (middle finger?) by the departing Bushies that one hopes the Obama administration would not agree with at all. Chances are we'll see a pretty quick reversal, particularly if it gets a lot of negative publicity.

Trade relations are highly political as we see in the Roquefort case. Interestingly, "retaliations" are actually a part of the WTO dispute settlement process and are approved or disapproved of by the IGO. The EU lost its case at the WTO and several EU countries failed to comply. The US is, thereby, legally granted permission to "retaliate" by way of imposing tariffs up to the estimated loss of revenue. The US is specifically selecting countries who are not abiding by the ruling within the EU. Note, also that this has happened in reverse in the steel sector.

So, the only options for Obama that comes to mind would involve upsetting the US beef lobby (Big Cow?) in order to satisfy the tastes of consumers of luxury goods or selecting a differant sector in Europe to pick on other than agricultural goods. I'm a bit less optimistic this will be on the agenda soon. Perhaps, the powerful National Restaurant Association lobby would take up the issue.

What's interesting is that generally Republicans push for free trade and Democrats as a block generally are more sympathetic to protective tarriffs (sp). It's especially ironic that it involves luxury food items. I surmise that there is an element of situational ethics in this case.

[Robin Garr]

What's interesting is that generally Republicans push for free trade and Democrats as a block generally are more sympathetic to protective tarriffs (sp). It's especially ironic that it involves luxury food items. I surmise that there is an element of situational ethics in this case.

It struck me right off that Bush still harbors hard feelings about the French failing to back his buildup to Iraq (remember "freedom fries"?) and that this informs this particular issue. Also, note that the flurry of last minute orders and regs that come flying out of ANY departing White House - Bush or Clinton alike - typically contain a lot of mischief and deserve a close look by the incoming administration.

I would say that the issue of free trade and protective tariffs is far too complicated to reduce to Republican, Democrat, liberal or conservative. Didn't NAFTA put Pat Buchanan and Ralph Nader on the same page? This liberal is pretty much against tariffs, feeling that globalization is a done deal, we can't stop it, but probably should be on the spearhead of efforts to make work just, humane and appropriately compensated for workers around the world. I think Obama might do that. I'm pretty sure Bush would not have.

"Also, note that the flurry of last minute orders and regs that come flying out of ANY departing White House - Bush or Clinton alike - typically contain a lot of mischief and deserve a close look by the incoming administration."

Then this is just business as usual.


"This liberal is pretty much against tariffs, feeling that globalization is a done deal, we can't stop it, but probably should be on the spearhead of efforts to make work just, humane and appropriately compensated for workers around the world. I think Obama might do that. I'm pretty sure Bush would not have."

This libertarian hopes you are right but the cynic in me says refer to the above.

[Robin Garr]

Then this is just business as usual.

Lissen, cynic ... The new guy is not the old guy. Almost NOTHING is the same. Even business as usual isn't.

Then this is just business as usual.

Lissen, cynic ... The new guy is not the old guy. Almost NOTHING is the same. Even business as usual isn't.

Ok

[Robin Garr]

Ok

Let's quit talkin' politics and have some good wine ...

Then this is just business as usual.

Lissen, cynic ... The new guy is not the old guy. Almost NOTHING is the same. Even business as usual isn't.

Yeah, you're either for Obama or you are the enemy....

...wait....

....nevermind.