Silverbird
12-22-2008, 10:27 AM
Only a few weeks after world leaders vowed at a Washington summit to reject trade protectionism and adhere to free-market principles as they combat the global financial crisis, a host of nations are already breaking that promise.
Moving to shield battered domestic manufacturers from foreign imports, Indonesia is slapping restrictions on at least 500 products this month, demanding special licenses and new fees on imports. Russia is hiking tariffs on imported cars, poultry and pork. France is launching a state fund to protect French companies from foreign takeovers. Officials in Argentina and Brazil are seeking to raise tariffs on products from imported wine and textiles to leather goods and peaches, according to the World Trade Organization (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/World+Trade+Organization?tid=informline).
The list of countries making access to their markets harder potentially includes the United States, where critics are calling the White House (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/The+White+House?tid=informline)'s $17.4 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry an unfair government subsidy that would put foreign competitors at a disadvantage.....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122102171.html?referrer=emailarticle
[Bah!!! As if other countries like Canada, France and Italy aren't doing the same thing for their auto industries. But here's the reality I'm going to be dealing with in Trade, though it's no surprise in a recession.]
Moving to shield battered domestic manufacturers from foreign imports, Indonesia is slapping restrictions on at least 500 products this month, demanding special licenses and new fees on imports. Russia is hiking tariffs on imported cars, poultry and pork. France is launching a state fund to protect French companies from foreign takeovers. Officials in Argentina and Brazil are seeking to raise tariffs on products from imported wine and textiles to leather goods and peaches, according to the World Trade Organization (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/World+Trade+Organization?tid=informline).
The list of countries making access to their markets harder potentially includes the United States, where critics are calling the White House (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/The+White+House?tid=informline)'s $17.4 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry an unfair government subsidy that would put foreign competitors at a disadvantage.....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122102171.html?referrer=emailarticle
[Bah!!! As if other countries like Canada, France and Italy aren't doing the same thing for their auto industries. But here's the reality I'm going to be dealing with in Trade, though it's no surprise in a recession.]