Don't they understand massive subsidies are an essential part of free trade?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,993688,00.htmlAfrican leaders are expected to give George Bush's tour a rocky start today by blaming US trade practices for impoverishing millions of farmers across the continent.
The US president will be personally challenged for perhaps the first time over the huge subsidies to US cotton growers, a dispute which threatens to overshadow a trip intended to trumpet Washington's generosity to poor countries.
Mr Bush's five-day, five-nation tour will start in Senegal today with a visit to Goree Island, where in the 19th century slaves awaiting shipment to America were detained. His scheduled speech is to touch on democracy and race but there will be no apology for slavery, as some campaigners had wished.
For the seven African heads of state due to meet the president today it is a rare opportunity to bypass multilateral institutions and make a direct pitch for trade reform.
Mr Bush wants to publicise the compassionate side of Washington's aid and trade concessions but he is likely to be tackled several times about the $4bn (£2.42bn) subsidies that critics say help to ruin west African cotton farmers.
Yesterday South Africa warned that Mr Bush would also be confronted over other agricultural subsidies during talks in Pretoria tomorrow.
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