As I was listening tonight to US Trade Rep Lightheizer’s testimony to the Senate Finance committee about our trade policies and current status of efficacy of our trade agreements, the question came up about an on-going problem with the EU and their protectionist schemes to thwart opening their markets to U.S. agriculture and business.
Lightheizer said that the EU has been concocting unscientific standards in order to prohibit entry of U.S. food and other goods. For example, the EU has a standard (didn’t say which crops or foods) that there must be “no detectable” residue; meaning that even a film of dirt dust (from the field in which it was grown) may not be on the crop. Or it could mean that there cannot be a trace of a chemical (pesticide), even if that chemical is food safe and has been scientifically proven to not be toxic to humans.
Mexico is also trying to skirt USMCA by going in the other direction. Mexico, according to Lightheizer, is purposely not adopting food production best practices and going backwards to earlier standards because they do not include current chemicals approved by the FDA.
The EU part of this anti-American trade reciprocity made me think of the Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles) which was spear-headed by the U.S. and included airmen and ground crews mainly from the U.S. and Britain (and a few French). The Airlift’s anniversary is coming up on June 26 (1948).
Over the course of 15 months the allies delivered over 2.3 million tons of food, coal and supplies to the blockaded Germans. There is a memorial dedicated to the over 100 people who died (30 Americans) in the course of supplying the German people, who would have died of cold, disease and starvation without it.
I’d love it if POTUS Trump reminded Merkel and her crones at the EU of this at the next economic summit, when the subject of trade reciprocity comes up. Seems our apples, pears, oranges, wheat, corn, milk and eggs were good enough for them back then. Hey, Madame EU Chairwoman, we want our Hershey bars back!
Here’s a link to a good explanation about the Berlin Airlift:
http://fly.historicwings.com/2012/06/the-berlin-airlift/#:~:text=Among%20them%20were%2031%20Americans%20who%20died%2C%20the,%E2%80%93%201st%20Lt%20Leland%20V.%20Williams%2C%20Abilene%2C%20TX
I have a special place in my heart for the brave airmen who flew these missions. If you ever get a chance to read more about the operation, it provides for a greater appreciation of the dangers and hardships they endured loading and flying these missions.
Cheers!
-Abigail Adams
I would say the Germans are un grateful; but i won’t.
My brother in law said JFK was crazy when I was killing ChiCom for JFK. so he went to Frankfort am Mein and was Herr Dr. Dr, —. My nephews were born there – and we had many arguments on nationality. “Du bist Amerikaner – Duetcher nischt!” The Germans 45 years ago remembered well the fire bombing of Dresden!
I am not saying they were/are right. But I am saying FDR was wrong!
Were I German I may not like America!~
I’m afraid, ‘ an ol exJarhead’ the feelings are mutual. Not necessarily, ‘not like the Germans‘, more like don’t trust.
My dad was there. He was a staff sergeant in the Air Force. He wasn’t part of an aircraft crew or controller. He was in the cryptographic section at his base. He was always proud to have been there.
My Dad was an Air Force Sgt. at the time of the Berlin Airlift and was in Berlin and witnessed the airlift as a member of a radio communications squadron. My dad was also proud to have been there and had a lot of stories about being stationed in Germany after World War 2 both good and bad. He and some of his buddies supplemented their income by hunting wild game when they could especially wild boars and providing it to the German people (and other favors) since the Germans couldn’t possess guns. Especially since he grew up in N. Idaho and was a very good hunter from an early age.
I am convinced that the usage of the word “Crones” here is not a typo. I’ve always considered Merkel to be a “Crone”. https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Crones#:~:text=The%20Crones%2C%20also%20called%20the,Brewess%2C%20Weavess%2C%20and%20Whispess.
They should check Merkel’s House for DNA from Hansel and Gretel..
If she was a cartoon she could be Witch Hazel the evil witch who tried to kill Bugs Bunny as well as eat Hansel and Gretel. Or Frau Merkel, along with hellary and nancy pelousey could be the 3 witches from Macbeth. And why do the horses all whinny and freak out when they hear Frau Merkel?
Crone. It’s not a typo. (although I often make them)
Have you seen the president of the European Parliament?