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Thursday, January 22, 2009
According to the Times of London, one of former US President Bush's final acts in office was a 300% increase on the punitive duty on Roquefort cheese imports from France. Mmmm, cheese.
Anyway, this was accompanied by increases on a variety of EU food imports, including fruit, chocolate, and chewing gum. The Times reports this as further punishment for Europe's 12 year ban on US hormone-fed beef. Some in France believe it extends back to France's lack of support for the invasion of Iraq. If true, US logic is brilliant- hit them where it hurts...cheese!
As if the new US duties weren't troubling enough, the European reaction threatens to ignite a full blown culture war. From the Times:
Philippe Folliot, a centrist MP for the area around the village of Roquefort, called for a super-tax against Coca-Cola.
Touche, France.
Labels: international trade, protectionism
