Two Sides of the Cotton War

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For two decades, Brazilian farmers have been listening to the United States promise that it will stop subsidizing its cotton farmers, but so far, that hasn’t happened.

In a bold move, Brazil is taking the U.S. to court at the World Trade Organization. Brazil says America is breaking the very rules of free trade that it promotes, and providing an unfair advantage to U.S. farmers in ways that make it impossible for others in the developing world to compete.

Emboldened by Brazil’s move, other countries including China, India and South Africa are signing on to this complaint, arguing that it’s time the United States started practicing what it preaches. We look at protectionism and poverty, in two perspectives from the two Americas.

Guests:

Shelton Wilder, cotton farmer from Longtown Tennessee

Joao luis – Pessa, cotton farmer from Primavera doLeste, Brazil;Aluisio De Lima Campos, economic advisor to the Brazilian Embassy

Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow, institution for International Economycs, Washington

Robert Goodman, extension agreicaltural economist at Auborn University in Alabama