IMF/WB overhaul; US tax breaks violate trade rules; post-N30 middle class anarchists

[Max Sawicky]

I now write:
Max, are you forecasting that the "trade people" will oppose
the WTO's ruling on tax breaks to overseas affiliates of U.S.
TNC's b/c this ruling overrides "U.S. sovereignty" (if even the
sovereignty of the U.S. Congress to legislate "corporate welfare"
for U.S. TNC's) ? Are you saying that the "trade people" first
and foremost are neo-mercantilist, worried about maintaining
the "competitiveness" of U.S.-based capital, vis a vis their
East Asian/EC rivals ? If so, who are you specifically referring
to when you use the expression "trade people" (I'm not trying to
set a trap here, I'm truly interested).
Thanks,   John G.
>>>>>>

answers:  no, no, the coalition

Opposition to the WTO decision from the pop-left is
not fundamentally on grounds of sovereignty, though
some use that rhetorical device when it suits them,
but on grounds of competitiveness.  Obviously for
those on the right, sovereignty has more importance.

Competitiveness need not refer to capital; it can
refer to workers.  It goes to the ability to produce
at decent wages and working conditions for export,
and all the factors that enter into it.  To describe
this as neo-mercantilist is not historical, since
the actual historical precedents are different. I
have heard it described as 'labor mercantilism.'
There's nothing wrong with it.

The anti-global forces I support are not pimping
for U.S. capital.  They seek to defend workers'
living standards and the environment from the
unregulated market.  You have to look pretty
hard to find capital interests among the
anti-globalizers on the left.  On the right,
it's not much different, with the exception
of the Millikin/textile forces.

I am predicting they will oppose the WTO decision,
though I can't say for certain.  I'm of two minds
about it, as I indicated in my previous post.
Getting rid of export preferences
in the tax system would be good for the economy
in general; thus it would be worth trading that
concession for something of value.  A potential
win-win situation.

"They" means
labor, environmental, consumer, and development-
oriented groups.  The Good Guys.

mbs