US Congress mulls French wine sanctions

expatica.com ^ | February 12, 2002\3 | AFP

[snopercod]

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (AFP) - Furious with France over its opposition to military action against Iraq and its embargo on genetically modified food, US House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Wednesday raised the specter of sanctions on French wine and mineral water.

Hastert's spokesman, John Feehery, said the powerful speaker was running the thought by his Republican colleagues to get a fix on whether such a move were feasible.

"The speaker is exploring whether the US should require bright orange labels" on French wine bottles warning their contents may have been treated with powdered beef blood to alter the colour", he said.

But he said "nothing has been done" yet, adding it was still in the talking stage.

The use of powdered beef blood has been banned in the European Union since 1998 because of the danger of mad cow disease.

Joe Rollo, spokesman for the Wine Institute which represents California wine growers, said it was "very unlikely" the US Congress will pass such legislation.

"Of course we are against this," he added. "There is no reason to discourage Americans from drinking wines...It could have a negative impact on wine consumption in the US."

[snopercod]

Yuck...

[gaspar]

I wonder, if Bush had it all to do over again if he wouldn't call Belgium-France-Germany the "axis of evil"?

[Kakaze]

" "The speaker is exploring whether the US should require bright orange labels" on French wine bottles warning their contents may have been treated with powdered beef blood to alter the colour", he said. "

Another orange alert!......

Good lord powdered beef blood?

Seriously I will have nothing to do with french. Backstabing , ungreatfull "allies"

[UncleSamUSA]

Would someone please clue in that moron Joe Rollo that the measure is not designed to discourage Americans from drinking wine but to discourage them from drinking FRENCH wine.

And thus drink more American - i.e. Californian wine (or Italian wine, or Spanish wine, etc.)

I guess Joe Rollo feels more allegiance to wine than to country. Does that make him an unpatriotic whiner??

[Peach]

Buy Australian and California wine.

[kittymyrib]

Joe Rollo sounds like a Kali dem who wouldn't like anything Hastert or Bush does, even if it would help his industry. The Kalifornia wine growers definitely need a smarter spokesman. Do try Australian wines. They are much better anyway.

[randita]

Chile and Argentina make very good cabernet sauvignon--great bargain.

I second the Australia recommendation, love the shiraz.

[randita]

Won't buy any French wine for the time being. It's way overpriced anyway.

[snopercod]

Tried the Bella Serra sangiovese from Italy?