WTO: Ease Trade Restriction on Tsunami affected region

NYGblue · 2005-01-14, 07:56 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?

_____________
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/in...tml?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.

KDS · 2005-01-18, 10:36 PM

Exactly Right. Lifting the trade restrictions will do little, if anything, for thevictims affected by the tsunami.

Calen · 2005-01-18, 11:19 PM

I'm hardly an expert economist, but it seems to me that granting favorable trade deals to tsunami-hit countries would work wonders for the victims. Lots of money would be flowing in, which would in turn allow them to rebuild infrastructure and recover from losses. In particular, granting concessions to the Thai shrimp industry seems like it would likely benefit exactly the people who suffered the worst: fishermen and coastal dwellers. Whether or not this is fair to the rest of us is something we will need to decide, but I think the WTO is probably right here (that it would help the tsunami victims).

I don't know the specifics of these duties or tariffs, but I'm all for leveling the playing field and letting the Thais compete with American and other fishermen in world markets. Granting them special favor, on the other hand, is not something I would necessarily advocate.

Calen · 2005-01-18, 11:24 PM

One must keep in mind also that there are already hundreds of millions of dollars pouring into the immediate relief efforts. Handing out dry rations and bottles of water only goes so far. Rebuilding the economies of the coastal cities and states that were hit will take years. The people don't just need food and water. They also need new homes, new boats, new port facilities, new warehouses, and so on. There is only so much we can provide in immediate, direct aid. The rebuilding effort will have to be partly to mostly funded by the local businesses as they get started up again. They have to be able to survive on their own, you know.

Light Touch · 2005-01-19, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDS

Exactly Right. Lifting the trade restrictions will do little, if anything, for thevictims affected by the tsunami.

Wrong. The best thing to happen to the areas affected would be increasing commerce. Commerce generates exponentially more money and more jobs than immediate aid ever will.

Trade restrictions decimate countries. Look at North Korea.

Light Touch · 2005-01-19, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calen

The rebuilding effort will have to be partly to mostly funded by the local businesses as they get started up again.

And investors.

Calen · 2005-01-19, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Light Touch

And investors.

Aye, you're right.

KDS · 2005-01-20, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Light Touch

Wrong. The best thing to happen to the areas affected would be increasing commerce. Commerce generates exponentially more money and more jobs than immediate aid ever will.

Trade restrictions decimate countries. Look at North Korea.

At the expense of the global market? THat sir, is a fallacy. NK is not decimated due to trade restrictions. NK is a communist state that borders on totalitarianism.
No economy can prosper given that charter.

The investor part you said later on was n point though. I definitely agree with you there.

Honestly, the best thing is to rebuild and rescusitate the tourism industry. THats why, after the tsunami hit, the governments told their tourists to stay and to act like tourists!
End the end It will work out. Debt holding nation will either put stays on payments or rescind some on the value owed to ease economic conditions. lifting the trade restrictions wont.

Light Touch · 2005-01-20, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDS

At the expense of the global market? THat sir, is a fallacy.

Did you quote the wrong person? I don't even know how what you said relates to my quote.

Calen · 2005-01-20, 07:37 PM

I don't think either LT or I are aware of the details of the 'restrictions' that the article refers to, but what we're trying to say is that if we allow free trade (no restrictions, not special priviliges) so that their fishermen and other industries can compete, it will help the economy of the country. An equal playing field doesn't mean that the rest of the world's economy is going to come crashing down.

KDS · 2005-01-23, 03:17 AM

withut getting to in depth..

1. light touch that quote was directed twards you, but I was too vaue.

I meant that lifting the restrictions at the expense of the global market is the wrong approach.

2. Calen - not crashing down, but relevant countries and industry will severely suffer. (ripple economics)

solution? Rebuld tourism..

2005-01-14, 07:56 PM	#1
NYGblue Forca Barca! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NYC - El Barrio Posts: 5,722	WTO: Ease Trade Restriction on Tsunami affected region 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? _____________ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/14/in...tml?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. __________________ "I like to mooooove... When the bassline drops, and the voice is hot, bitch, thats the time i get the itch to get on the floor and move move move until im sore!"

2005-01-18, 11:19 PM	#3
Calen plurbunny extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: American University Posts: 518	I'm hardly an expert economist, but it seems to me that granting favorable trade deals to tsunami-hit countries would work wonders for the victims. Lots of money would be flowing in, which would in turn allow them to rebuild infrastructure and recover from losses. In particular, granting concessions to the Thai shrimp industry seems like it would likely benefit exactly the people who suffered the worst: fishermen and coastal dwellers. Whether or not this is fair to the rest of us is something we will need to decide, but I think the WTO is probably right here (that it would help the tsunami victims). I don't know the specifics of these duties or tariffs, but I'm all for leveling the playing field and letting the Thais compete with American and other fishermen in world markets. Granting them special favor, on the other hand, is not something I would necessarily advocate. __________________ "The fact that you've got 'REPLICA' written down the side of your guns, and the fact that I've got 'Desert Eagle .50' written down the side of mine should precipitate the shrinking of your balls. Now fuck off." - Snatch

2005-01-18, 11:24 PM	#4
Calen plurbunny extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: American University Posts: 518	One must keep in mind also that there are already hundreds of millions of dollars pouring into the immediate relief efforts. Handing out dry rations and bottles of water only goes so far. Rebuilding the economies of the coastal cities and states that were hit will take years. The people don't just need food and water. They also need new homes, new boats, new port facilities, new warehouses, and so on. There is only so much we can provide in immediate, direct aid. The rebuilding effort will have to be partly to mostly funded by the local businesses as they get started up again. They have to be able to survive on their own, you know. __________________ "The fact that you've got 'REPLICA' written down the side of your guns, and the fact that I've got 'Desert Eagle .50' written down the side of mine should precipitate the shrinking of your balls. Now fuck off." - Snatch

2005-01-20, 07:37 PM	#10
Calen plurbunny extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: American University Posts: 518	I don't think either LT or I are aware of the details of the 'restrictions' that the article refers to, but what we're trying to say is that if we allow free trade (no restrictions, not special priviliges) so that their fishermen and other industries can compete, it will help the economy of the country. An equal playing field doesn't mean that the rest of the world's economy is going to come crashing down. __________________ "The fact that you've got 'REPLICA' written down the side of your guns, and the fact that I've got 'Desert Eagle .50' written down the side of mine should precipitate the shrinking of your balls. Now fuck off." - Snatch

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2005-01-18, 10:36 PM	#2
KDS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nova Posts: 34	Exactly Right. Lifting the trade restrictions will do little, if anything, for thevictims affected by the tsunami.

2005-01-23, 03:17 AM	#11
KDS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nova Posts: 34	withut getting to in depth.. 1. light touch that quote was directed twards you, but I was too vaue. I meant that lifting the restrictions at the expense of the global market is the wrong approach. 2. Calen - not crashing down, but relevant countries and industry will severely suffer. (ripple economics) solution? Rebuld tourism..