Post by sushimo on Feb 4, 2009 14:07:17 GMT
This is currently on their website and has racked up a mass of replies - mostly from the UK. Your thoughts?
Is it 'dangerous' for countries to protect their own economies?
The EU ambassador in Washington has warned that the US could set a "dangerous precedent" by asking companies to "buy American". Is it wrong for countries to put their own workers first?
The US economic recovery package has a "Buy American" clause designed to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill.
The Canadian ambassador in Washington, Michael Wilson, said the measure could lead to other countries taking similar measures resulting in a global depression.
In the UK, thousands of workers went on strike last week to protest against the use of Italian and Portuguese workers.
Should government seek to protect their own economies and workers at this time? Or will this just worsen the downturn?
Responses:
1.
It’s like most things in life; if you don’t protect yourself, you get taken advantage of. And that’s equally true for countries as it is for individuals.
Every other country will protect itself, the UK wont and the UK will be one that gets shafted.
2.
We are one of the few countries in EU (which we had no vote on) to follow all the rules.
Other countries protect their economies and so should we.
How about a vote on remaining in the EU?
I thought we lived in a democracy!
newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=5995&edition=1&ttl=20090204135858&#paginator
Is it 'dangerous' for countries to protect their own economies?
The EU ambassador in Washington has warned that the US could set a "dangerous precedent" by asking companies to "buy American". Is it wrong for countries to put their own workers first?
The US economic recovery package has a "Buy American" clause designed to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill.
The Canadian ambassador in Washington, Michael Wilson, said the measure could lead to other countries taking similar measures resulting in a global depression.
In the UK, thousands of workers went on strike last week to protest against the use of Italian and Portuguese workers.
Should government seek to protect their own economies and workers at this time? Or will this just worsen the downturn?
Responses:
1.
It’s like most things in life; if you don’t protect yourself, you get taken advantage of. And that’s equally true for countries as it is for individuals.
Every other country will protect itself, the UK wont and the UK will be one that gets shafted.
2.
We are one of the few countries in EU (which we had no vote on) to follow all the rules.
Other countries protect their economies and so should we.
How about a vote on remaining in the EU?
I thought we lived in a democracy!
newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=5995&edition=1&ttl=20090204135858&#paginator
