US goods set to double in price as Europe plans huge trade war

independent.co.uk ^ | 11 November 2003 | Stephen Castle

[sure_fine]

US goods set to double in price as Europe plans huge trade war

By Stephen Castle in Brussels 11 November 2003

American jeans, Florida orange juice and dozens of other US products could double in price from next month because of a growing transatlantic trade war.

The World Trade Organisation gave the European Union permission yesterday to impose huge import tariffs, which will allow price increases of between 8 and 100 per cent on a range of goods.

[thinktwice]

"When goods cross borders, armies will not." -- Frederic Bastiat

[RWR8189]

Bush better respond will retaliatory measures.

[RWR8189]

will
*with

[F16Fighter]

I suppose the price of Volkswagons will double too after the US declares it's own punitive tariffs which will decimate European car makers....

If implimented, this will only help the Big Three American car makers and Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. And everybody knows Japanese cars are more dependable than the already over-priced 4-wheeled Euro-trash anyway.

[Odyssey-x]

History has shown that major trade wars usually don't lead to good things.

[Jumper]

Most US goods already cost nearly 20% more on the basis of European countries imposition of a Value Added Tax. Germany imposes about 17%, Belgium 20%, and The Netherlands 19%.... A pair of Levis costs $29 in the Military Department Store called the PX (AAFES/NATEX) here in Europe, however on the local economies they cost about $70 after conversion. Figure 20% tax at the consumer level. Now, allow Brussels to add this new Fine which is an import tarriff and a pair of Levis will soon cost even more, but the real benefit is not the one time tax at the boarders by governments, it is the recycled benefit of the VAT which is applied against a higher level, again contributing to government revenues and further constricting consumption, e.g., trade.

[Fee]

That is very bright. EU economy is in a recession. High tariffs will increase the price of goods that use US parts or made in US. That will cause inflation in an already slowed economy and make the slowdown last even longer.

[greasepaint]

European food products are infested with spores from
Mad Cow Disease.
Avoid.

[concerned about politics]

Washington - Stop world funding.
Citizens - Boycott European goods.

Let's see who needs who more.

[lunatic12]

The Bush steel tariffs were a bad idea that is coming home to roost. They were vote pandering of the worst sort by Karl (let's spend more money) Rove. Bush better get rid of those tariffs or he and the country will go the way of Herbert Hoover.

[TheCrusader]

we need to make our own stuff like we used to. We rely too heavily on imports, and cheap junk at that.

[oceanview]

I guess the steelworkers who end up working at walmart will be big Bush supporters.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Still ticked about freedom fries and wine spilling.

So they punish their own people. EU fascist mentality.

[concerned about politics]

I guess the steelworkers who end up working at walmart will be big Bush supporters.

Unions usually vote Democrat anyway. They support the socialist workers party. If that's the case with steal workers, he'll never miss their vote anyway.

[McGavin999]

How could this have been a move by Rove to get votes? The steel workers are unionized, they'd never vote for Bush anyway.

Bush put the tariffs in place because there was some illegal dumping going on. It may have been a politically dumb move, but it was a move that justice demanded.

As to the euro peons, let them do whatever they want, we'll just slow down spending on goods imported from "the continent". Watch their unemployment go from 10% to 15%.

[Bogey78O]

Let's really screw them over and scrap the progressive income tax and go with a consumption tax.

After we steal all their businesses because we've suddenly become a tax shelter we then tell them where to shove their socialism.

[longtermmemmory]

The european central bank is constantly in spin control over the recession. Eurostat, the agency that is supposed to provide reliable statistics about the euro, is now in the midst of its SECOND fraud scandal. In fact this current board is the one that replaced the first scandal board when they realized they were unchargable under laws then.

The EU is lying about its numbers. That is why the french were able to bully the EU to give them a pass. These are not about retaliation. These are about protectionism during a recession. A desperate move.

[ElkGroveDan]

Bush better respond with retaliatory measures.

The people who suffer in trade wars are the consumers. Why should Bush unfairly punish American consumers in response to the EU politicians who are unfairly punishing their consumers?

Bush needs to cut off the diplomatic and relief money and all that other crap, but leave OUR economy alone.

[concerned about politics]

. These are not about retaliation. These are about protectionism during a recession. A desperate move.

Reallaaaay. So a Euro boycott would seriously hurt their socialism, aye?