The Soapbox

fishhoo

Joined: 02/27/2004 Posts: 1347
Likes: 2854


It is very emotional and I'd add the following perspective


I have been embroiled in the heart of one of the nastier trade disputes we've had going in this country for the past 10+ years. 15-20 years ago, Vietnam did an incredible job starting an aquaculture industry with one of their "national" products -- the Pangasius fish. Long and complicated story regarding its background and how Vietnam built up this industry, but the bottom line is that it has become one of the bigger success stories in global food production from a developing country during the last several decades and it is something that Vietnam is exporting all over the world. The U.S. has absolutely spit in their face on this product -- over and over and over -- as this item has been targeted with a bullseye from the domestic catfish industry and a very narrow (but extremely powerful) set of politicians in those areas. The battle against Vietnam on this has been absolutely politically ruthless -- laced with everything from xenophobic and racist language to outright lies about the industry and product itself. We are late in the stages now of a battle that would effectively ban their product from import to this country (in addition to significant import duties that have already closed our market off to a big chunk of their producers). This would be very ugly under any circumstance -- a true embarrassment regarding our approach to any developing country anywhere in the world (not to mention one that actually has strong strategic value as a friend in that region). However, watching the images and thinking back about what was going on in that country just 40 years ago -- it is absolutely incredible and frankly shameless what we are doing to them now on an issue that may not get a lot of press here, but is of great national importance over there. There are actually a number of people working in this industry today in Vietnam who have vivid firsthand experience and memories from the war. As they have built a new life in the private sector, imagine what some of them are thinking now about the U.S. as some here do everything in their power to close off this market to them through any political means necessary and laced with ugly rhetoric.

(In response to this post by Hoogle.com)

Posted: 09/21/2017 at 1:11PM



+7

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Current Thread:
 
  
Watching Ken Burns' The Vietnam War is uncomfortable. -- Hoogle.com 09/21/2017 12:33PM
  Sure looks very similar to a Catfish (pic) -- Tuckahokie 09/21/2017 3:58PM
  That is one of the many lines of battle -- fishhoo 09/21/2017 2:47PM
  "The claims are demonstrably false" -- Faz d. Hoo 09/21/2017 4:36PM
  Ever seen an American chicken or beef farm? -- WahooRQ 09/21/2017 6:08PM
  American food standards suck too -- Faz d. Hoo 09/21/2017 11:14PM
  Eternal question about -- fishhoo 09/21/2017 5:10PM
  This is the fish in the middle of the battle -- fishhoo 09/21/2017 2:36PM
  Thanks, now I am wondering if I have ever eaten it. Thanks! -- jdubforwahoowa 09/21/2017 2:51PM
  It seems to go back and forth -- Faz d. Hoo 09/21/2017 4:46PM
  Good question and absolutely they have faced -- fishhoo 09/21/2017 2:29PM
  Always enjoy the discourse -- fishhoo 09/21/2017 4:11PM
  LOL. Had it for the first time today. -- Faz d. Hoo 09/21/2017 4:50PM
  Well? How was it? ** -- jdubforwahoowa 09/22/2017 10:38AM
  Meh -- Faz d. Hoo 09/22/2017 11:26AM
  Fascinating stuff ** -- KCHoo 09/21/2017 1:37PM
  And our government gets dumber & dumber ** -- WaxHoo 09/21/2017 1:05PM
  That is the Trumpians' fault.** -- jdubforwahoowa 09/21/2017 2:19PM
  Mine was glued to the TV the other night -- VaTechie 09/21/2017 4:44PM
  If I recall you are a Vietnam vet? ** -- WahooRQ 09/21/2017 1:00PM
  Please don't thank us for that. ** -- Hoogle.com 09/21/2017 2:59PM
  Those who served in Vietnam deserve our gratitude at least -- hoolstoptheheels 09/21/2017 3:50PM
  Ahh. Hoogle and NJ are vets? I did not realize that. -- hoolstoptheheels 09/21/2017 12:58PM
  No problem. I came back in one piece. -- NJHoo 09/21/2017 4:06PM
  Yes, they are. ** -- HowieT3 09/21/2017 1:02PM

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