About a week ago the first item on our South African news channels was about trouble between the United States and SA concerning chicken imports.
Not being an economist it actually boggled my mind somewhat.
The way I understand it so far is that South Africa has certain import duties to protect some local jobs and industries, and in the lucrative chicken
trade the US regards these as a threat to their interests.
Apparently the duties only apply to some cuts of chickens, and not even to the most lucrative and biggest market, for example for chicken feet (known
locally as "walkie-talkies").
I really wouldn't care much as a vegetarian (those poor birds), and it mostly concerns capturing the growing black middle classes, and even under
Apartheid KFC was the only US fast-food franchise that never withdrew from the country.
That was a long time ago, and now we have many, like McDonalds or Burger King.
The thing is that since the news item I've found I can no longer watch a lot of American (or American manged) music on YouTube, when I never had a
problem doing so before.
The screen comes up blank and reads: "This video is unavailable in your country".
At first I thought it's just a bad connection, but now it seems to be a trend.
Are we under an unofficial trade embargo?
OK fine, there's a lot of good music in the world not managed by US interests, and if they don't want us to support their musicians or sell their
albums and shows here that's their loss.
I've lived through sanctions before.
Maybe I'm wrong and this has another reason?
I see it as connected though, even if it's not admitted openly, and I think the musicians in question should take note that a poor country may be
being blackmailed in their name for protecting their workers from a flood that could wipe out local chicken farming completely.
US and SA in flap over chickens:
www.reuters.com...
Senator Coons threatens SA over chicken imports.
www.law360.com...
www.bdlive.co.za... edit on 6-1-2015 by halfoldman because: (no reason
given)
edit on 6-1-2015 by halfoldman because: (no reason given)