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RE: [greenyes] U.S. Trade Policy


I can't speak for all subsidized industries, but I do know that current
private forest tax breaks/subsidies in Wisconsin are about the only
thing keeping private forests from turning into subdivisions. Without
incentives to do the right thing, who will? Energy conservation is a
prime example.

And then I have to ask myself - is it really the tax breaks and
subsidies that is creating this waste product? Will removing the tax
breaks and subsidies change demand? Maybe.

Megan
Boise, Idaho


>>> "Reindl, John" <Reindl@no.address> 10/13/2004 7:07:23 AM >>>
On the issue of tax subsidies and the wTO, does anyone have any
information
about why the subsidies for mining and forestry are also not being
brought
before the WTO?

As a recycler, I am especially concerned about the subsidies to
forestry,
since paper and wood are the largest components of the material stream
that
we handle, and are the largest parts of what goes into landfills.

Forestry not only receives massive subsidies in the US at the federal
level,
but also at the state and local level, through state and county
ownership of
forests that don't pay property taxes, income taxes or sales taxes,
and
programs to provide tax breaks for private forests, such as
Wisconsin's,
which has a price tag of somewhere around $50 to $100 million a year.

John Reindl
Dane County, WI

>
> 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.







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