US 'help' to developing nations.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 12:45am

The Act provides for duty-free and quota-free access to the U.S. market without limits for apparel made in eligible Sub-Saharan African countries from U.S. fabric, yarn, and thread. It also provides for substantial growth of duty-free and quota-free apparel imports made from fabric produced in beneficiary countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Under AGOA I, apparel imports made with regional (African) fabric and yarn are subject to a cap of 1.5% of overall U.S. apparel imports, growing to 3.5% of overall imports over an 8 year period. AGOA II doubles the applicable percentages of the cap

Typical US help {:roll:} for Africa? all this in retern for unfettered US access to African labour for US corporations and the abandonment of government subsidies and tarriffs.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 12:52am

Sounds good to me.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 12:57am

Durran Korr wrote:Sounds good to me.

Im sure, but dont complain if Africa takes a dislike to the US in a big way.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 01:00am

Stuart Mackey wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Sounds good to me.
Im sure, but dont complain if Africa takes a dislike to the US in a big way.

For not taxing them...?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-14 01:14am

Durran Korr wrote:For not taxing them...?

For a grossly one-sided agreement.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 01:18am

Honestly, I don't see it. Am I missing something obvious?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-09-14 01:20am

Probably has to do with the labor situation over there. We get insanely cheap labor, we get inexpensive products, they get about nothing.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 01:27am

Point made. I still don't see the problem, however, unless this legislation is being applied discriminatively.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 01:41am

Durran Korr wrote:Point made. I still don't see the problem, however, unless this legislation is being applied discriminatively.

The US gets unfettered access to this area and this area gets conditional access to the US for products which have heavy US content, and you dont see a problem?
One sided 'help' like this is a grossly unfair trade pratice that does nothing for underdeveloped nations.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 01:47am

Stuart Mackey wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Point made. I still don't see the problem, however, unless this legislation is being applied discriminatively.
The US gets unfettered access to this area and this area gets conditional access to the US for products which have heavy US content, and you dont see a problem?
One sided 'help' like this is a grossly unfair trade pratice that does nothing for underdeveloped nations.

Is it the import cap that you're talking about? On second glance, yes, that does seem unfair (and downright stupid).

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 01:58am

Durran Korr wrote:
Stuart Mackey wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Point made. I still don't see the problem, however, unless this legislation is being applied discriminatively.
The US gets unfettered access to this area and this area gets conditional access to the US for products which have heavy US content, and you dont see a problem?
One sided 'help' like this is a grossly unfair trade pratice that does nothing for underdeveloped nations.
Is it the import cap that you're talking about?

As well as, yes.

On second glance, yes, that does seem unfair (and downright stupid).

Indeed. Not of course that the EU has great trade practices either....

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 01:59am

I don't really have a problem with the U.S. having access to African labor markets, it's just the import cap that bothers me.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 02:02am

Durran Korr wrote:I don't really have a problem with the U.S. having access to African labor markets, it's just the import cap that bothers me.

I wouldnt have a problem either, except that the US does not apply equel access to african nations to US markets and insists that imports from Africa have high US content. You cannot help a nation by making it an economic colony.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-14 02:09am

Stuart Mackey wrote: I wouldnt have a problem either, except that the US does not apply equel access to african nations to US markets and insists that imports from Africa have high US content. You cannot help a nation by making it an economic colony.

I doubt its making things worse however.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-09-14 02:26am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Stuart Mackey wrote: I wouldnt have a problem either, except that the US does not apply equel access to african nations to US markets and insists that imports from Africa have high US content. You cannot help a nation by making it an economic colony.
I doubt its making things worse however.

Such a policy removes the chance of an indiginous economy to get on its feet, which would make things better? and how can an economy prosper when its own farmers have to compete against subsidised US imports?