[Imc-radio] another headline

[Sarah Lazare]

here is another headline via commondreams.org

WASHINGTON -- International development groups are calling on the United 
States to swiftly comply with a World Trade Organization (WTO) final ruling 
issued Thursday declaring the bulk of U.S. government subsidies to its 
cotton industry illegal.

The case against U.S. cotton dumping is overwhelming and now confirmed yet 
again by the WTO. The debate is over. The U.S. must now move quickly to 
reform its programs and stop dumping cheap cotton onto world markets that 
undermines the livelihoods of poor farmers in the developing world.

Celine Charveriat, spokeswoman for Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign
The case aroused world interest, as it was the first formal challenge to the 
massive agricultural subsidies handed out by rich nations to their farmers, 
a practice that critics say destroys the competitiveness of agricultural 
exports from the developing world.

The ruling will put to the test the George W. Bush administration's 
commitment to abide by the rules of the global trade arbiter and its 
frequent urging that developing countries do the same, say many observers.

The WTO made an initial ruling last September on a petition by Brazil, 
supported by some West African cotton-producing nations, that challenged 
several types of U.S. agricultural support measures, including financial 
backing for cotton farmers.

Brazil alleged that subsidies paid to U.S. farmers growing cotton from 1999 
to 2002, and others mandated through 2007 in the latest U.S. farm bill, 
violate WTO rules.

The WTO dispute panel had found that 3.2 billion dollars in annual cotton 
subsidies and 1.6 billion dollars in export credits paid by the U.S. in 
cotton and other commodities were illegal under WTO rules. Washington 
appealed that decision in October.

Thursday's decision upholding the first ruling is final, and the United 
States has until Jul. 1 to comply or face possible trade sanctions by 
Brazil.