US taxpayer dollars going to Brazilian cotton farms.

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In summary, the US is paying subsidies to both American and Brazilian cotton farmers in order to maintain the current agricultural policy. This is seen as wasteful and unnecessary by many, and other countries are taking advantage of this to protect their own industries. The situation is further complicated by the EU's subsidies for tobacco farmers and the strange practices of Ford importing trucks with throwaway seats.
  • #1
turbo
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It's bad enough that the US taxpayer has to pay subsidies to cotton farmers in the US - now, to stave off retaliatory tariffs on non-farm goods entering Brazil, we are giving subsidies to Brazilian cotton-growers. What a wonderful idea! :mad:

If you're perplexed, here's the short explanation: We're shoveling our taxpayer dollars to Brazilian farmers to make sure we can keep shoveling our taxpayer dollars to American farmers — which is, after all, the overriding purpose of U.S. agricultural policy. Basically, we're paying off foreigners to let us maintain our ludicrous status quo.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1978963,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-full-nation-related
 
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  • #2
Well, that's less wasteful than the agricultural subsidies it backs. If self-flagellation is the only way other nations will let you take a bazooka to your head, we're (apparently) all for it.
 
  • #3
My thoughts, as well. Why are we paying huge agribusinesses subsidies to grow crops in the first place? ~$150M "protection" money to protect billions in US subsidies? Can you spell waste? Sure, I knew you could. (Thanks, Mr. Rogers)
 
  • #4
That's about what the EU pays to subidize tobacco farmers!

The funniest one I heard recently was,
Ford import trucks from their plants in europe with throw away extra seats installed.
They remove the seats and bury them in landfill, thus turning a 'bus' into a truck.
Apparently in the 60s Germany protested the US exporting cheap chickens and so the US put a penalty on imported trucks (but not cars/buses).
 
  • #5
mgb_phys said:
That's about what the EU pays to subidize tobacco farmers!

The funniest one I heard recently was,
Ford import trucks from their plants in europe with throw away extra seats installed.
They remove the seats and bury them in landfill, thus turning a 'bus' into a truck.
Apparently in the 60s Germany protested the US exporting cheap chickens and so the US put a penalty on imported trucks (but not cars/buses).
Oh, man! Is there any sanity left? Are we destined to extinction by corruption and bureaucracy (Vogon syndrome)?
 
Last edited:

1. What is the reason behind US taxpayer dollars going to Brazilian cotton farms?

The US government provides subsidies to American cotton farmers in order to support their industry and keep prices competitive. However, this has resulted in a dispute with Brazil through the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it violates international trade rules.

2. How much money is being spent on Brazilian cotton farms by US taxpayers?

According to the WTO, US subsidies to cotton farmers amount to approximately $3 billion annually. Of this amount, a significant portion goes towards supporting American cotton production while a smaller portion is used for export subsidies, which can indirectly benefit Brazilian cotton farmers.

3. Is there an impact on the US economy due to US taxpayer dollars going to Brazilian cotton farms?

The WTO ruling on US subsidies to cotton farmers has had a negative impact on the US economy. The US has faced trade retaliation from Brazil, resulting in increased tariffs on American exports and a loss of market access for US cotton products. This has led to a decline in US cotton exports and a decrease in income for American cotton farmers.

4. Are there any efforts being made to address this issue?

The US government has made some efforts to address the issue by reducing subsidies to cotton farmers and providing financial assistance to those affected by the WTO ruling. However, these efforts have not fully resolved the issue and the US continues to face trade retaliation from Brazil.

5. What are the potential long-term consequences of US taxpayer dollars going to Brazilian cotton farms?

If the issue is not resolved, there could be long-term consequences for both the US and Brazilian cotton industries. The US may continue to face trade retaliation and a decline in cotton exports, while Brazilian cotton farmers may become dependent on US subsidies and lose their competitiveness in the global market. This could ultimately harm the sustainability of both industries in the long run.

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