WTO Imposes Penalties on U.S. Exports

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - The World Trade Organization (news - web sites) imposed penalties Friday on U.S. exports ranging from apples to textiles, escalating a trade dispute the Bush administration has struggled to defuse by unsuccessfully urging Congress to repeal legislation aimed at protecting American steelmakers.


The administration signaled it would accept the penalties short term, but also warned that the United States would aggressively protect its own trading interests and expects fair treatment from the WTO.


"We've worked hard to comply with the WTO," President Bush (news - web sites) said, speaking to reporters in Crawford, Texas. "It's important that all nations comply with WTO rulings."


Bush said he has worked with Congress "to get in compliance," and "we expect the WTO as well to treat our trading partners as they treat us."


more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20041127/ap_on_bi_ge/us_trade_sanctions

[brainshrub]

1. English translation: The drop of the dollar will not mean more business.

It's not like you can buy a whole lot from the US anyways, since we don't have a manufacturing base anymore.

And now, the rest of the world will not want to buy our raw materials... the one thing that can't be outsourced.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. The world is now voting on Dear Leader:

They don't like what they see.

[hollowdweller]

3. I want to see them embargo us and oil go up to $3 a gallon

Then maybe we will see our domestic economy get a few more jobs back. Things might cost a little more but it concerns me that we are sending so much of our $$ overseas.

[Gyre]

4. Watching these fuckers implode

Would be ABSOLUTELY GREAT, if they weren't running MY country!

Gyre

[Spazito]

5. Here's an article gives a specific list of products that will probably...

be targeted:

WTO sanctions U.S. for protection

snip

Potential trade targets
U.S. goods that could be targeted by other countries after Friday's decision by the World Trade Organization over the Byrd amendment
Canada
Live pigs, ornamental fish, oysters, dried red kidney beans, papayas, maple syrup, peanut butter, mineral water, rum, cigarettes, perfume, vanity cases, sawn lumber, plywood, wood pulp, wallpaper, writing paper, mittens, carpets, pearls, air conditioners, beverage vending machines, record and cassette players, skis.
EU
Sweet corn, paper facial tissues, diaries with calendars, blotting pads, anoraks, overcoats, trousers, dresses, sweaters, cotton rugs, sneakers, metal frames for eyeglasses, hand drills, crane trucks, photocopiers, plastic furniture, mobile homes.

more

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041126.wtrade1126/BNStory/Business/#table

[brainshrub]

6. "ornamental fish"??? What the hell is an ornamental fish?

Like those ornamental singing fish people living in trailers give each other?

[Spazito]

7. LOL Good question!

It seems it is goldfish, Koi, etc. Your question forced me to google it out of curiosity.

[brainshrub]

8. I knew that... but I preferred to give the funny answer.

At least an answer that seemed funny to me.

[Spazito]

9. It was perfect, had me laughing, remembering the "talking" fish...

thanks for the laugh! Wonder if they are not in the closet with the pet rocks? lol

[uppityperson]

10. interesting list

we won't be able to build, write, clean, wipe our tears away from not being able to eat kidney beans and monkfish, watch tv in our new mobile homes while sitting on plastic chairs...

We live in interesting times.

[FloridaPat]

11. Good Grief! What a joke! When did we become the papaya capital

of the world? Here in Florida when we go to the grocery stores, most of the tropical fruits are from Mexico, even though we grow that stuff here in Florida.

We're building 14 basis in Iraq. Housing costs are up 10-15% because they're using so much wood in Iraq. How is it we have some to export??? We're exporting mineral water?

W're exporting cloths? Where does one get American made clothes? Not at Walmart! Or most places.

Looks like the list is from the businesses that would suffer the least. Thye're just trying to make a point.