Seaweed Clogging Up Trade Talks

[Mulboyne]

IHT: Fishy rules? Japan argues seaweed should fall under WTO industrial talks, not agriculture
There's something fishy about Japan's tariff rules. Six years into global commerce talks, Tokyo is still trying to convince countries that the seaweed eaten with sushi and other Japanese dishes should be considered alongside cars, jets and television sets in discussions about tariff cuts...Seaweed, a form of algae, is scientifically considered to be a simple plant. But because it is plucked from the sea by Japan's fishermen, Tokyo argues that it should fall under the tariff cuts that it is negotiating for its fishing industry...India and others rejected a Swiss-Japanese proposal presented Monday that would allow each country to shift a number of products from agriculture to manufacturing as exceptions. Many countries fear such an option would open a Pandora's box in WTO talks that have already produced thousands of documented offers, explanations and exchanges...more...