Prawns-for-Jets

Kerry Howley | January 27, 2005

In exchange for dropping its tariffs on Thai prawns (one of the industries most hurt by the tsunami), the EU wants Thailand to buy six of its (much hyped, heavily subsidized) A380 Airbus Aircraft. According to this report, that should cost Thailand well over $1 billion.

Much like the U.S. tariffs, this deal was in the making before the tsunami struck. But punishing developing countries for competitive advantages wasn't a particularly generous policy pre-tsunami, either.