France Tells U.S. to Sign Climate Pacts or Face Tax

NY Times ^ | 2/1/07 | Katrin Bennhold

[LibWhacker]

PARIS, Jan. 31 — President Jacques Chirac has demanded that the United States sign both the Kyoto climate protocol and a future agreement that will take effect when the Kyoto accord runs out in 2012.

He said that he welcomed last week’s State of the Union address in which President Bush described climate change as a “serious challenge” and acknowledged that a growing number of American politicians now favor emissions cuts.

But he warned that if the United States did not sign the agreements, a carbon tax across Europe on imports from nations that have not signed the Kyoto treaty could be imposed to try to force compliance. The European Union is the largest export market for American goods.

“A carbon tax is inevitable,” Mr. Chirac said. “If it is European, and I believe it will be European, then it will all the same have a certain influence because it means that all the countries that do not accept the minimum obligations will be obliged to pay.”

[kanawa]

"The European Union is the largest export market for American goods."

2006...Exports....Imports....Balance (in millions of $)

Canada....212,191.7 ...279,697.8....-67,506.1

E.U. ........195,220.7...302,843.7....-107,622.9

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/index.html

[citizen]

We really screwed up in WWII saving the Euros.

[mkjessup]

F.U. you commie rat.

That sez it all my FRiend, France is so concerned about global warming they're turning off the lights on the Eiffel Tower, I got a better idea: level that damn thing with a pair of JDAMs, and then ask 'em "did you hear THAT answer about your damn global warming concerns?"

Yeah, I know, not gonna happen but it's a nice visual, believe me. ;)

[snuffy smiff]

"Get bent you cheese-eating surrender monkey"

(best I can do without resorting to the use of DU language)

[winner3000]

Chirac would love any chance to get into a trade war with the US. That'll give him the pretext he needs to get to the protectionism that would prevent the US from competing with France head to head.

[Kozak]

"boycott french products..simple"

Been doing that for years.

[nevergore]

Why after WWII did we portray them as our friends?

After the French Army surrended to the Germans.....The remaining French Army under the Vichy Government fought US Troops in Algiers killing hundreds of US Servicemen.....

The French military has never been our friend...

[Doogle]

Been doing that for years.

...me too, but until the wake up from the nap and really feel it...

[Doogle]

the=they

[ExcursionGuy84]

Well, then we just just slap an extra $5/bottle tax on French wine.

My parents & I only purchase US or Aussie wine anyways. Nothing like a cold 1.75mL of YellowTail shiraz.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Dear France: I fart in your general direction.

[TexConfederate1861]

These French Jerks can kiss My *$$!
No more Gray Goose Vodka for me. :)

[TexConfederate1861]

I am sure going to miss my Gray Goose Vodka, but....oh well!

[nevergore]

Why after WWII did we portray them as our friends?

After the French Army surrended to the Germans.....The remaining French Army under the Vichy Government fought US Troops in Algiers killing hundreds of US Servicemen.....

The French military has never been our friend...nor the French as a whole....

[MarkL]

But that doesn't lessen my wish for someone with some balls to be appointed to major positions around the world who can tell France and others to get their own back steps swept before they complain about others.

We had one in John Bolton, but he made the senators cry, and have feinting spells. So don't ever expect another Jean Kirkpatrick or John Bolton. The senate's simply not up to it.

Mark

[polymuser]

They may not remember, but we do.

[neodad]

150 + posts and no Belly Girl?

[elfman2]

“And what about their goods? Turnabout is fair play..........”

This is a joke, going nowhere.

Under the same authority [none] a terrorism enablement tax “could be imposed to try to force compliance” in which “all the countries that do not accept the minimum obligations will be obliged to pay”.

This is simply a desperate suggestion by a disgraced politician loosing support for the unfeasible product of his life’s work.

[ExSoldier]

Got my Whistle Blower magazine yesterday. Given what I read in there and backed up by other sources, we don't have a thing to worry about. Never worry about things you cannot control! The North American SUPERSTATE is almost a reality and we'll all have our national ID cards within a year, followed shortly thereafter by the chip....Wait! Do you hear that? The approaching hoofbeats of the four horsemen.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Global warming on Mars ??? Caused by Mars ROVErs ???? <---- Hmmmmmmm.... ROVE???? Of course... That proves it to me! Blame Bush!!!!

< /s>