From studying political science and going through trade issues in my current degree, I have come to one conclusion national interests are no differ from corporate interests.
Reading and watching this whole BP mess unfold, it just heartbreaking, especially when you see pictures of innocent wildlife just suffering. I can’t believe there are people out there who are chastising Obama for his comments because if I was in his position, I would want to know who’s ass to kick too. When it all boils down to it, once again a big corporation was trying to maximise its profits in the short term while not looking at the long time effects.
In trade, this seems to be the recurring theme of the current multilateral trade negotiations, Doha Development Round. The current impasse that is holding up the conclusion of the round is vastly blamed on the United States and other developed countries in their unwillingness to seek a compromise position on many issues. This is because they are ‘protecting their national interest’, resulting in a reactionary defense of developing countries to halt any further concessions or negotiating positions that could move the process forward.
A clear example - Brazilian Cotton Case against US subsidies programmes
In a recent editorial in the Washington Post, the editor commented on the wastefulness of the cotton subsidies programme that is now costing the US $147.3 million more per year, in addition to, its subsidies payments. Even tho, National Cotton Council of America claims that farmers are getting zero payments this year. All in the name of where the interests lie, and it is obvious that those cotton farmers lobbyist on Capital Hill are gifted in the act of suasion.
Yet, in a recent consultation of the Sub-Committee on Cotton to review trade distorting policies, the US failed to make a substantial commitment to rectifying the issue. Although they have committed to do so as part of the agreement in the Brazil cotton case.
In comparison, the US government is playing the same type of ‘weaving and bobbing’ game with developing countries at a multilateral level that BP is playing with the American people. I am not saying that what BP is doing can be justified because it can’t. However, what the US is doing to developing countries in the trade arena cannot be justified either because ultimately they are playing with the lives of people in the South, which is more than 2/3 of the world’s population on rough estimate. All in the name of national interests….
Up Next:- ‘don’t get mad, get strategic – my people of the South’
