Global trade and France’s farm policies

Re “So much for egalite,” editorial, Dec. 12

Please let me know if I am missing some great big point here. Just how hypocritical is it that the most gigantic agricultural subsidy of all never gets mentioned in any of these viewpoints regarding global trade talks and issues? Namely, in the United States, who is it that plants, harvests the farm fields and tends the ranch lands?

Gee, the last time I looked, it was the underpaid, uninsured, un-enfranchised, mostly unappreciated millions of so-called illegal aliens (actually native North Americans) who happen to mostly speak Spanish. Seems like the most obvious unfair trade advantage to be seen anywhere in the world.

And in case anyone has still not noticed, when it comes to world trade, the United States is considered an agricultural country. Developing countries use the cash from trade surpluses they enjoy with the United States to buy manufactured goods from such countries as Japan and Germany.

JOHN WALSH

Santa Clarita

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It seems like overkill that The Times would feature in its main editorial a self-righteous admonition laced with the usual derogatory innuendoes against the French regarding their protectionist farm policies.

You made it sound as though France was single-handedly responsible for the starvation of millions of Third World children and the failure of farming in the developing world.

I find this editorial hypocritical in view of the fact that the current U.S. administration vehemently opposes any future Kyoto-type agreement for the stated benefit of U.S. economic interests, whatever impact this may have on the future of world climate. This selfish U.S. position may compromise the future of world farming far more dramatically that any subsidies France may wish to provide its farmers.

Editorials such as this do nothing but amplify America’s pointless but popular antagonism and derision toward France. And on the other side of the Atlantic, it only reinforces the perception of U.S. arrogance and hypocrisy.

Ah well, it may be c’est la vie as far as our friendship is concerned.

Too bad.

YVES COURBET

Paris, France