Pages: 1

 

2008-07-28 11:00:34
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6976
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0728/wto.html

I really don't know what western nations' obsession with free trade is all about. This WTO deal will basically decimate European agriculture. Call me old-fashioned by I would see it as a matter of national security that countries preserve some element of agrarianism from the point of view of self-sufficiency on the one hand and employment on the other. Thankfully France are fighting our corner. Up yours WTO and up yours Peter Mandelson.
2008-07-28 11:31:06
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6963|Texas - Bigger than France
European agriculture?

Is that a primary market?

(honest question)
2008-07-28 11:37:22
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6976

Pug wrote:

European agriculture?

Is that a primary market?

(honest question)
In what sense? I'm not au fait with the term 'primary market'.
2008-07-28 12:58:31
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6963|Texas - Bigger than France

CameronPoe wrote:

Pug wrote:

European agriculture?

Is that a primary market?

(honest question)
In what sense? I'm not au fait with the term 'primary market'.
Is agriculture a top GNP driver for Europe?
2008-07-28 13:04:40
KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,991|7053|949

CameronPoe wrote:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0728/wto.html

I really don't know what western nations' obsession with free trade is all about. This WTO deal will basically decimate European agriculture. Call me old-fashioned by I would see it as a matter of national security that countries preserve some element of agrarianism from the point of view of self-sufficiency on the one hand and employment on the other. Thankfully France are fighting our corner. Up yours WTO and up yours Peter Mandelson.
To western nations, "Free Trade" means that: we will continue to create tariffs on your imports; subsidize our own sectors of economy; pressure you to restrict or eliminate all tariffs; reduce or eliminate government regulation regarding consumer and environmental protection; lobby other governments to reduce or eliminate subsidies...

It is a incredibly poor cover for opening up a nation's economy for our consumer and luxury goods and to exploit resources.  Not to mention a horrible euphamism.

Last edited by KEN-JENNINGS (2008-07-28 13:06:21)

2008-07-28 13:05:35
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7128|67.222.138.85

Pug wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Pug wrote:

European agriculture?

Is that a primary market?

(honest question)
In what sense? I'm not au fait with the term 'primary market'.
Is agriculture a top GNP driver for Europe?
I would assume not, but as Cameron said some level of agrarian competence is important aspect of the self sufficiency of a nation. Look at how oil dependence has the U.S. by the balls, every country needs food just as the U.S. needs oil, and relying solely on foreign sources is a major point of weakness in foreign policy for any nation.
2008-07-28 13:19:49
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6963|Texas - Bigger than France

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

I would assume not, but as Cameron said some level of agrarian competence is important aspect of the self sufficiency of a nation. Look at how oil dependence has the U.S. by the balls, every country needs food just as the U.S. needs oil, and relying solely on foreign sources is a major point of weakness in foreign policy for any nation.
Seems to me the "free trade" act is bitching about exports, which have nothing to do with agrarian competency...it's about selling the surplus.
2008-07-28 13:42:39
topal63
. . .
+533|7139

KEN-JENNINGS wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0728/wto.html

I really don't know what western nations' obsession with free trade is all about. This WTO deal will basically decimate European agriculture. Call me old-fashioned by I would see it as a matter of national security that countries preserve some element of agrarianism from the point of view of self-sufficiency on the one hand and employment on the other. Thankfully France are fighting our corner. Up yours WTO and up yours Peter Mandelson.
To western nations, "Free Trade" means that: we will continue to create tariffs on your imports; subsidize our own sectors of economy; pressure you to restrict or eliminate all tariffs; reduce or eliminate government regulation regarding consumer and environmental protection; lobby other governments to reduce or eliminate subsidies...

It is a incredibly poor cover for opening up a nation's economy for our consumer and luxury goods and to exploit resources.  Not to mention a horrible euphamism.
Not only that but they are all about the bottom line, a heartless corporate bottom line. They don't care. Why would they? They can't - it inevitably boils down to bean-counting. They don't care if they ruin a business/job sector here in America while exploiting resources or workers overseas; if their bottom-line is enhanced in the short-term or long-term then they're a success by naked capitalist standards.
2008-07-28 13:47:01
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7128|67.222.138.85

Pug wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

I would assume not, but as Cameron said some level of agrarian competence is important aspect of the self sufficiency of a nation. Look at how oil dependence has the U.S. by the balls, every country needs food just as the U.S. needs oil, and relying solely on foreign sources is a major point of weakness in foreign policy for any nation.
Seems to me the "free trade" act is bitching about exports, which have nothing to do with agrarian competency...it's about selling the surplus.
If you can't make money in it, why bother? No one wants to be a subsistence farmer, but the products that are being exported right now could be turned back into the domestic market if the need (or economic incentive) ever materialized.
2008-07-28 13:51:44
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6963|Texas - Bigger than France

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Pug wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

I would assume not, but as Cameron said some level of agrarian competence is important aspect of the self sufficiency of a nation. Look at how oil dependence has the U.S. by the balls, every country needs food just as the U.S. needs oil, and relying solely on foreign sources is a major point of weakness in foreign policy for any nation.
Seems to me the "free trade" act is bitching about exports, which have nothing to do with agrarian competency...it's about selling the surplus.
If you can't make money in it, why bother? No one wants to be a subsistence farmer, but the products that are being exported right now could be turned back into the domestic market if the need (or economic incentive) ever materialized.
Ahh, you're assuming the local farmers can't make it cheaper than the imports.  Hey, if they can't they're screwed anyway...
2008-07-28 16:25:49
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6826|North Carolina
Barriers to trade come from multiple directions.  It's not just the West putting tariffs on goods.  The Third World does the same thing to our products.

Personally, I favor reciprocal trade.  Our markets should only be as open as those of our trading partners.
2008-07-28 16:30:01
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7128|67.222.138.85

Pug wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Pug wrote:


Seems to me the "free trade" act is bitching about exports, which have nothing to do with agrarian competency...it's about selling the surplus.
If you can't make money in it, why bother? No one wants to be a subsistence farmer, but the products that are being exported right now could be turned back into the domestic market if the need (or economic incentive) ever materialized.
Ahh, you're assuming the local farmers can't make it cheaper than the imports.  Hey, if they can't they're screwed anyway...
Well otherwise they wouldn't need a tariff right? Otherwise it's not necessary.
2008-07-29 04:27:06
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,822|6527|eXtreme to the maX
Good for the French
Fuck Israel
2008-07-29 04:46:38
BVC
Member
+325|7116
Free trade = more dairy going overseas = more expensive milk and cheese for me.  +1 Karma to France.
2008-07-29 04:54:16
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,822|6527|eXtreme to the maX
Peter Mandelson has always been a craphead.
Fuck Israel

 

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