October 19, 2005
NO WAY, JOSE:
Bush and Barroso back trade liberalisation (Mark Beunderman, 10/19/05, EU Observer)
US president George W. Bush and European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso both reaffirmed their backing for a cut in world-wide agricultural subsidies on Tuesday (18 October), after the first visit of a commission president to the White House since 1989.The White House talks came two months before a key World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting on world trade liberalisation, with both the US and the EU recently offering cuts in trade-distorting subsidies of up to 70 percent despite domestic resistance. [...]
Mr Barroso at the brief press encounter after the talks reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the WTO talks, but attempted to shift attention away from agriculture only - with the EU generally being seen as the most protectionist agricultural bloc.
How about a world trade scheme that includes everyone but France? Posted by Orrin Judd at October 19, 2005 8:41 AM
France has trade?
Posted by: John at October 19, 2005 8:52 AMSure, any Frenchman will trade a night with his sister or the location of hidden Jews to a German for a cigarette.
Posted by: oj at October 19, 2005 9:21 AMThe most protectionist trade bloc, at least in WTO negotiations, is this "Gang of Ten" that consists of Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, and other countries that aren't in the EU and have really no business with so much agriculture.
Posted by: John Thacker at October 19, 2005 9:49 AM