[greenyes] U.S. Trade Policy

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

copy of my letter to the US Trade Office:



Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick

U.S. Trade Representative

600 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20508

Dear Ambassador Zoellick:

I would like, if I may, to ask you a question concerning basic trade 
principles, in light of the U.S. position with regard to our Airbus dispute 
with the European Community.

If I understand our position in that case correctly, we argue that free 
trade under WTO rules is not whatever laissez-faire decrees, but rather "is 
about fair competition and a level playing field," as you were quoted in the 
October 7, 2004 Wall Street Journal ("U.S., Europe Sue Each Other at WTO 
Over Aircraft Subsidies"). In that regard, it seems to be our claim that 
Airbus enjoys excessively large tax subsidies, creating an unlevel playing 
field on which Boeing cannot fairly compete. We, therefore, have petitioned 
to have WTO rule that the tax subsidies are an unfair trade practice, 
subject to penalties.

I mention all this not because I have any objection to that posture. 
However, it leads me to ask whether or not the exact same principles would 
apply with equal force to pollution regulations.

That is to say, if a trading partner permits excessively large releases of 
pollutants by its manufacturers, in substantial departure from the 
international norm, the relative effect on international competitiveness is 
the same. An unlevel playing field is created because manufacturers in that 
country will have a lower cost of producing product - which is the 
functional equivalent to the bottom line of enjoying lower taxes or 
receiving cash grants.

Moreover, there would seem to be an even stronger grounds for our concern, 
along with other neighboring countries, because, in many instances, 
pollution acknowledges no international boundaries and its costs are borne 
directly by those other countries in the form of higher health bills and 
other related environmental costs.

My question to you is whether the U.S. trade position includes along with 
opposition to undue tax subsidies, improper environmental subsidies by our 
trading partners.

Sincerely,



Peter Anderson

_________________________
Peter Anderson, President
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING
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