Foreign Affairs
Related: About this forumTrump versus Rwanda in trade battle over used clothes
KIGALI/ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Early last year, weeks after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, a little known American trade association filed a petition with the U.S. Trade Representative.
That seven-page letter set Africa in the cross-hairs of the new administrations America First trade ideology, pitting the worlds largest economy against tiny Rwanda over an unlikely U.S. export: cast-off clothes.
In March, the USTR warned Rwanda it would lose some benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Americas flagship trade legislation for Africa, in 60 days after it increased tariffs on second-hand clothes to support its local garment industry.
The presidents determinations underscore his commitment to enforcing our trade laws and ensuring fairness in our trade relationships, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney said, announcing the decision.
The 60-day grace period expires on May 28.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rwanda-usa-trade-insight/trump-versus-rwanda-in-trade-battle-over-used-clothes-idUSKCN1IP0WB?il=0
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Tiny Rwanda's been "cheating" us and we're not going to put up with it any more?
Yes.
NOVEMBER 6, WE START FIXING THIS BY KICKING THE BASTARDS OUT OUT OF CONGRESS.
madaboutharry
(40,217 posts)This is an example of a world view that embraces the attitude of "Why should I do anything for anyone else?" Let's face it, republicans are all about getting everything they can for themselves. They look at the tariffs on used clothing and it is viewed as Rwanda "taking advantage" rather than seeing a country struggling to recover from economic disaster following war and genocide.
If Trump had been president after World War II, there never would have been a Marshall Plan. Germany would have been left in ruin. We would have done nothing to rebuild Japan. Trump would have instead put in place policies of revenge.
TexasTowelie
(112,367 posts)as conquered territories. Their resources (natural and human) would be exploited to the fullest extent possible.
Danmel
(4,921 posts)We'd have been an Axis power.