Iceland Vs Whales
21/7/11 12:54![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14223673
The US has opened the door to trade sanctions on Iceland over its hunting of fin whales and exports of whalemeat.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has formally told President Obama that Iceland's hunt threatens the species, which is globally endangered.
The president has 60 days to give his response, which can include trade bans.
Since it started so much debate I decided to post this as a followup to my other post about whaling.
The question is, of course, if the US will actually hit Iceland with trade sactions. Since the president seems to be in a hardball mood I could see it happening. No doubt the GOP would us such an action to accuse the president of "hindering trade in these hard economic times." But if the US does do it my bet is that Iceland will cave. Their economy is a wreck and bad relations with the US is something they can't afford right now.
So for the president it seems to be the question of dealing with giving the GOP ammo leading up to an election year Vs scoring points with the enviromental lobby and the PR points that come from giving a European nation a whack with rolled up newspaper on the world stage.
I say we go for it!
(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 04:40 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 04:49 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 06:48 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 07:15 (UTC)"The US can't sanction a long-time ally still recovering from a terrible disaster."
Done!