kickAAS

Is there life after subsidies?

Amid all the drip fed rumours of eleventh-hour brinkmanship in the international trade talks - ranging from the new French government demanding bigger US concessions to US thoughts about replacing direct subsidies with "self support" schemes, let's remind ourselves  what life without subsidies could be like. Thanks to Azeem Azhar for the link.

Subsidies fatten the land . . . and you

Thanks to Carl Oberg for pointing out this article in the New York Times that I had missed linking the bad effects of agriculture subsidies and developed world obesity. In other words if richer countries got rid of subsidies they would not only save billions of pounds in financial support - they would also be much healthier. This problem is a no brainer even before you factor in the hugely beneficial effects of allowing developing countries to have a level playing field in their trade with the West.
And the Doha talks? With weeks to go before the final, final, final deadline, there is renewed speculation about a deal being cooked up.

Beating about the Bush

There have been no posts recently because, tragically, there is nothing to blog about let alone blag about. The world's leaders continue to go through a ritual dance of "I'll do something, but only if you do something first" as instanced by President Bush parroting for the umpteenth time that the US will cut tariffs but only if other nations agree to make tariff cuts. Meanwhile in the Third World . . .