Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Juggernaut of hypocrisy but with steel tariffs

03-07-2002, 01:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Davros:
You asked Dramnek where he was from, but there's no mistaking where you're coming from Magik . I guess I can look forward to a caustic reply very shortly, because to date almost no one has been allowed to challenge the Bush policy without getting an earful from you. You will be pleased to note that I come from a land with no protectionism for it's steel, sugar, beef etc - one that is quite use to getting regularly kicked by the subsidy wars.

************************************************** ***************
AUSTRALIA is considering a protest to the World Trade Organisation against a US decision to slap a 30 per cent tariff on imported steel to protect its moribund domestic industry.

The move risks a trade war with key US allies in the fight against terrorism, threw half of BHP's US steel exports into turmoil and potentially threatens hundreds of Australian jobs.

The Howard Government announced an immediate industry summit and raised the prospect of a WTO appeal.

The European Union promised action at the WTO, branding the decision a massive setback for world trade. Russia announced it was banning imports of US chickens, depriving American poultry producers of half their exports.

The decision affects 400,000 tonnes of BHP's rolled steel exports, worth about $200 million, and BHP Steel chief Kirby Adams described the decision by President George W. Bush as an "affront". Mr Adams would not rule out job losses at the Port Kembla steelworks, south of Sydney.

Trade Minister Mark Vaile, who was woken at 5am by a call from US Commerce Secretary Don Evans conveying the news, said the decision would have "serious negative impacts" on Australia.

The Government flagged better laws to protect the Australian market from becoming a dumping ground for cheap steel, but Mr Vaile said the Australian industry was "well placed – it is very, very competitive".

Mr Bush, a self-proclaimed free-trader, denied he was hypocritical or acting illegally.

He said the decision, made under heavy pressure from US steel states, was levelling the playing field against subsidised foreign competition.
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The news is just "Too Bad", if you are a superior and more cost effective "non-subsidised" competitor. Bush will try to drive you out of business to protect what plainly isn't working back home.

Don't get me wrong Magik, I support Bush on many things - certainly on his stance on terrorism, and the free trade ethics he espouses. The tariff moves that he made can be defended on the basis of an attempt to address national interest, but that infers that the hypocrisy inherent in his statements wrt free trade become indefensible.

Only my 2 cents - and in US terms (conversion rate) that is worth about 1.04 cents .

Your first point..yes I make it publicly known which country I live in its in my profile and at the bottom of my posts, so when I bash another country people know if I live there or not. I commented that Not everyone and ONE person in particular seem to prefer not to let that be known. It was a comment nothing more, no antipathy at all. Sorry to hear your country of Australia is doing so poorly. Mayhap that isnt the fault of the USA though. Actually Im pretty certain its the fault of the Australian government. Every country should be charged with taking care of its own business, sorry that big countries are better suited in some areas than smaller but thats life. As for Bush and his policy..he is following the advice of his cabinet, which by the way is made up of a people from both sides of our government..I read once that due to the closeness of the election Bush actually went out of his way to try and balance the cabinet.

Lastly Id like to say, that my posts are not written to be "caustic" I just TRY to make my point directly without too much extraneous BS but I fail miserably and I know it [img]smile.gif[/img] at least I try [img]smile.gif[/img] Im not a writer by nature and do much better in a live verbal debate than I do in type. So don't take it personally its just the way I am...I TRY not to take stuff from here personally.

03-07-2002, 01:31 PM	#22
MagiK Guest Posts: n/a	quote: Originally posted by Davros: You asked Dramnek where he was from, but there's no mistaking where you're coming from Magik . I guess I can look forward to a caustic reply very shortly, because to date almost no one has been allowed to challenge the Bush policy without getting an earful from you. You will be pleased to note that I come from a land with no protectionism for it's steel, sugar, beef etc - one that is quite use to getting regularly kicked by the subsidy wars. ************************************************ *********** AUSTRALIA is considering a protest to the World Trade Organisation against a US decision to slap a 30 per cent tariff on imported steel to protect its moribund domestic industry. The move risks a trade war with key US allies in the fight against terrorism, threw half of BHP's US steel exports into turmoil and potentially threatens hundreds of Australian jobs. The Howard Government announced an immediate industry summit and raised the prospect of a WTO appeal. The European Union promised action at the WTO, branding the decision a massive setback for world trade. Russia announced it was banning imports of US chickens, depriving American poultry producers of half their exports. The decision affects 400,000 tonnes of BHP's rolled steel exports, worth about $200 million, and BHP Steel chief Kirby Adams described the decision by President George W. Bush as an "affront". Mr Adams would not rule out job losses at the Port Kembla steelworks, south of Sydney. Trade Minister Mark Vaile, who was woken at 5am by a call from US Commerce Secretary Don Evans conveying the news, said the decision would have "serious negative impacts" on Australia. The Government flagged better laws to protect the Australian market from becoming a dumping ground for cheap steel, but Mr Vaile said the Australian industry was "well placed – it is very, very competitive". Mr Bush, a self-proclaimed free-trader, denied he was hypocritical or acting illegally. He said the decision, made under heavy pressure from US steel states, was levelling the playing field against subsidised foreign competition. ********************************************** **************** The news is just "Too Bad", if you are a superior and more cost effective "non-subsidised" competitor. Bush will try to drive you out of business to protect what plainly isn't working back home. Don't get me wrong Magik, I support Bush on many things - certainly on his stance on terrorism, and the free trade ethics he espouses. The tariff moves that he made can be defended on the basis of an attempt to address national interest, but that infers that the hypocrisy inherent in his statements wrt free trade become indefensible. Only my 2 cents - and in US terms (conversion rate) that is worth about 1.04 cents . Your first point..yes I make it publicly known which country I live in its in my profile and at the bottom of my posts, so when I bash another country people know if I live there or not. I commented that Not everyone and ONE person in particular seem to prefer not to let that be known. It was a comment nothing more, no antipathy at all. Sorry to hear your country of Australia is doing so poorly. Mayhap that isnt the fault of the USA though. Actually Im pretty certain its the fault of the Australian government. Every country should be charged with taking care of its own business, sorry that big countries are better suited in some areas than smaller but thats life. As for Bush and his policy..he is following the advice of his cabinet, which by the way is made up of a people from both sides of our government..I read once that due to the closeness of the election Bush actually went out of his way to try and balance the cabinet. Lastly Id like to say, that my posts are not written to be "caustic" I just TRY to make my point directly without too much extraneous BS but I fail miserably and I know it [img]smile.gif[/img] at least I try [img]smile.gif[/img] Im not a writer by nature and do much better in a live verbal debate than I do in type. So don't take it personally its just the way I am...I TRY not to take stuff from here personally.