| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: Subsaharan |
| African leaders discuss access to Western markets |
| 2004-02-15 |
| Leaders and senior officials from 20 African countries met in Rwanda on Saturday to find ways to get African farmers better access to lucrative American and European markets. Members of the New Partnership for Africa Development, or NEPAD, worked to hammer out a common position on how to persuade the United States and European countries to reduce or eliminate the massive agricultural subsidies they give their farmers, Claver Gatete, a senior NEPAD official, told The Associated Press. The African leaders and officials "are trying to see how African countries, African products can access markets in developed countries ... where they are providing subsidies of almost US$1 billion per day for agricultural products," Gatete said. Western countries spend about US$300 billion a year supporting their farmers, subsidies that African countries argue undercut the competitive advantage of one of the continent’s main industries. The subsidies have "really prohibited" African farmers from selling their produce in Western countries, Gatete said. He’s got a point. Helping African countries with trade would be better long-term than aid and subsidies. The two-day summit began Friday when 16 nations launched a self-policing system intended to combat negative perceptions of Africa and make the world’s poorest continent more attractive to private investors. On Saturday, Angola became the 17th country to join the initiative known as the African Peer Review Mechanism, said Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. If this actually works I may have to buy a new surprise meter, ’cause the one I have now will burn out. Under the initiative, countries will open themselves up to scrutiny by independent agencies, such as the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa, which will consult with governments, the private sector and members of civil society to gauge economic and political conditions, focusing on corruption, human rights and the investment environment. Make it open to U.S. agencies and I’ll be even more impressed. The review mechanism will operate under the African Union’s NEPAD, the latest initiative to encourage development and investment in the continent beset by conflict, human rights abuses, poor infrastructure and corruption. NEPAD has been trumpeted as an African effort to solve Africa’s problems, but the African Union, the continent’s main body, is strapped for cash -- inheriting large debts from its predecessor, the Organization for African Unity -- and has been criticized for being little more than a talking shop. Which is the history of Africa. But fixing the agri-trade issue could make it easier to fight the WoT. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 Old Patriot -- good points. But many African countries are already competitive in peanuts (Senegal, Mali) and cotton (CAR, B.F., for ex.) Sugar barriers hurt the Philippines, which is an major site in the WoT. |
| Posted by: closet neo-con 2004-2-15 1:42:06 PM |
| #6 I like and encourage competition. Sometimes, however, trying to go head to head isn't the best way to go. I'm sure there are things that only grow in Africa, and some things that, although grown elsewhere, taste different when grown in Africa. It may be better to concentrate on those areas, rather than trying to compete directly with US wheat, cotton, soybean, and corn growers - at least until farming as an export has gained a significant foothold in Africa. The US sugar subsidy is mainly aimed at Caribbean and South American growers (Cuba, number 1). IF US subsidies are rolled back, we also will have to roll back the tons of over-regulation our farmers currently struggle with, so they can be competitive internationally. This isn't the simple problem a lot of people think it is, and there isn't going to be a simple solution. I encourage Africa, and I hope the US and Europe not only encourage this, but help in every way possible. I just think there are going to be some significant teething problems along the way. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-15 12:21:43 PM |
| #5 Closet NC, I am betting that the farm subsidies are rolled back soon after the election - just speculating. If they are eliminated altogether, I would limit them to farmers owning a limited acreage. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-15 11:37:41 AM |
| #4 What will this do to our domestic khat farmers? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-15 11:34:56 AM |
| #3 Islam is growing rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa, but then again, so is Christianity -- this is the crucial arena of cultural competition. US cotton, peanut, and sugar growers (with their protectionist allies in congress) are NOT gelping matters here at all. |
| Posted by: closet neo-con 2004-2-15 10:31:18 AM |
| #2 NEPAD - isn't that the one Clinton helped found? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-2-15 9:35:55 AM |
| #1 So Africa is in play. I'm on board. Release the hounds Smithers. Perhaps Africa is the theatre that the WoT should morph. That would ruffle AQ's shorts. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-2-15 1:45:09 AM |