NYGblue
2005-01-14, 08:56 PM
Not really sure what to make of this article but it seems like a bit of a politicization of the tragedy by all parties mentioned/interviewed in this articles. Thoughts?
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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/international/worldspecial4/14cnd-trade.html?oref=login
Ease Trade Rules for Stricken Nations, Head of W.T.O. Urges
By ELIZABETH BECKER
Published: January 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 - The head of the World Trade Organization issued a plea to all member nations today to use trade rules to aid nations suffering from the tsunami.
Adopting an unusually personal tone, Supachai Panitchpakdi, the director general of the W.T.O. and a native of Thailand, asked countries to open up their markets and restrain from using trade remedies, or punishments, against the worst-hit economies.
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"As someone from the affected region, I naturally feel a particular sense of tragedy," Mr. Supachai said in a letter sent to the member nations.
He said that although the W.T.O. was not involved in humanitarian assistance or disaster relief, it nevertheless shared "part of the responsibility to assist recovery from the tsunami that hit South and Southeast Asia.
Calls for trade relief were quick following this disaster, reflecting a growing understanding that in the globalized world, a country's ability to restore lives and livelihoods depends on selling products overseas.
But as in previous tragedies, the appeals to help foreign countries through trade concessions are being fought by industries that could suffer from those actions.
Already, the United States and the European Union have both pledged to consider suspending some of the duties imposed on products from the countries hardest hit by the tsunami: India, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Europe is also considering giving early trade preferences to the countries.
Moreover, the European Union is sending experts and logistical support to the region immediately to help repair infrastructure that insures food prepared for export meets international safety and health standards.
"Food is a big export for these countries, so we're sending help to get them back up and running so they will be able to export again," said Anthony Gooch, a spokesman for the European Union in Washington. "We help them to help themselves."
The United States is also trying to devise other ways to use trade to help the devastated region recover its businesses and improve employment possibilities.
"We have been in active consultations with the trade ministries of the tsunami-affected nations as well as our domestic stake holders discussing possible ways to facilitate reconstruction efforts," said Richard Mills, a spokesman for United States trade representative, Robert B. Zoellick.
Some of the countries have already come up with their own ideas.
Thailand, which has said it will rebuild the affected regions on its own, is asking to be spared from new tariffs placed by the United States against its shrimp exports last week.
Sri Lanka wants special consideration for its textile exports.
With the expiration of the global Multifiber Agreement governing textile trade at the beginning of this year, all the countries of the region had already asked the United States for special consideration, especially in the face of the new competition they face with China.
Deborah Long, a spokeswoman for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, said there were other ways to help than to suspend duties imposed last week on Asian and Latin American countries for selling shrimp at below market prices.
"We are in full sympathy with the countries hit by the tsunami, but the U.S. shrimp industry should not have to shoulder the nation's responsibilities," she said.
A more equitable solution, she argued, was for retailers in the United States to pay the shrimpers higher prices for their shrimp.
Lloyd Woods, a spokesman for the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, an industry group that represents a majority of American textile companies, said the best way to help Sri Lanka, Thailand and India was to go ahead with the proposed "safeguard" limits on Chinese exports to the United States.
"If the United States is serious about helping those countries, the best thing they could do is to impose the safeguards here against China," Mr. Wood said.
In fact, the safeguards were proposed by the United States textile industry.
_____________
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/international/worldspecial4/14cnd-trade.html?oref=login
Ease Trade Rules for Stricken Nations, Head of W.T.O. Urges
By ELIZABETH BECKER
Published: January 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 - The head of the World Trade Organization issued a plea to all member nations today to use trade rules to aid nations suffering from the tsunami.
Adopting an unusually personal tone, Supachai Panitchpakdi, the director general of the W.T.O. and a native of Thailand, asked countries to open up their markets and restrain from using trade remedies, or punishments, against the worst-hit economies.
Advertisement
"As someone from the affected region, I naturally feel a particular sense of tragedy," Mr. Supachai said in a letter sent to the member nations.
He said that although the W.T.O. was not involved in humanitarian assistance or disaster relief, it nevertheless shared "part of the responsibility to assist recovery from the tsunami that hit South and Southeast Asia.
Calls for trade relief were quick following this disaster, reflecting a growing understanding that in the globalized world, a country's ability to restore lives and livelihoods depends on selling products overseas.
But as in previous tragedies, the appeals to help foreign countries through trade concessions are being fought by industries that could suffer from those actions.
Already, the United States and the European Union have both pledged to consider suspending some of the duties imposed on products from the countries hardest hit by the tsunami: India, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Europe is also considering giving early trade preferences to the countries.
Moreover, the European Union is sending experts and logistical support to the region immediately to help repair infrastructure that insures food prepared for export meets international safety and health standards.
"Food is a big export for these countries, so we're sending help to get them back up and running so they will be able to export again," said Anthony Gooch, a spokesman for the European Union in Washington. "We help them to help themselves."
The United States is also trying to devise other ways to use trade to help the devastated region recover its businesses and improve employment possibilities.
"We have been in active consultations with the trade ministries of the tsunami-affected nations as well as our domestic stake holders discussing possible ways to facilitate reconstruction efforts," said Richard Mills, a spokesman for United States trade representative, Robert B. Zoellick.
Some of the countries have already come up with their own ideas.
Thailand, which has said it will rebuild the affected regions on its own, is asking to be spared from new tariffs placed by the United States against its shrimp exports last week.
Sri Lanka wants special consideration for its textile exports.
With the expiration of the global Multifiber Agreement governing textile trade at the beginning of this year, all the countries of the region had already asked the United States for special consideration, especially in the face of the new competition they face with China.
Deborah Long, a spokeswoman for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, said there were other ways to help than to suspend duties imposed last week on Asian and Latin American countries for selling shrimp at below market prices.
"We are in full sympathy with the countries hit by the tsunami, but the U.S. shrimp industry should not have to shoulder the nation's responsibilities," she said.
A more equitable solution, she argued, was for retailers in the United States to pay the shrimpers higher prices for their shrimp.
Lloyd Woods, a spokesman for the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, an industry group that represents a majority of American textile companies, said the best way to help Sri Lanka, Thailand and India was to go ahead with the proposed "safeguard" limits on Chinese exports to the United States.
"If the United States is serious about helping those countries, the best thing they could do is to impose the safeguards here against China," Mr. Wood said.
In fact, the safeguards were proposed by the United States textile industry.