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French officials are also pushing to ensure that French cultural products, and notably the audiovisual sector, remain exempt from free trade rules during talks
by mmanfrin 13y ago
French officials are also pushing to ensure that French cultural products, and notably the audiovisual sector, remain exempt from free trade rules during talks on a planned trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.
I.e., tax American/Foreign products only. I.e. a tariff. I.e. illegal under the WTO.
- ekianjo 13y agoWell, it's not like we manufacture anything in France anymore :)
- lotsofcows 13y agoWhile manufacturing's been on a downwards trend during the recession, almost 20% of France's GDP comes from manufacturing - greater than USA or UK - similar to Germany and Japan.
- ekianjo 13y agoMaybe, but what kind of manufacturing are we talking about, and how much is really privately-owned and not state-owned or state-subsidized? That is the real question to determine if it is comparable with US or Japan for that matter.
- Egregore 13y agoI don't live in France, but I use Tefal frying pan, which is said to be manufactured in France.
- michaelt 13y agoIf the WTO treaty was a one-liner saying "No tariffs, no subsidies" you'd be right. But in fact provisions for films have been in WTO treaties since at least 1947 [1] and France just doesn't want to remove them. Weird-but-legal tariffs and subsidies are nothing new - look at all the agricultural subsidies that are permitted, for example. [1] http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/gatt47_01_e.htm#articleIV http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/gatt47_01_e.htm#ar...