World

Newscaster: Well of course they may not know it, but thecleverest thing they’ve done is to go and target Scotscashmere right in the middle of an election fever.(Channel 4:1900, 4.3.99)Secondly, an American representative outlined thelogic behind the selection of a broad range of products:US Trades Spokesperson: We hope to cover a widerange of products exported from Europe to the US fromthe overwhelming number of different members in theEuropean Union. And we put that list together to try tohave broad diversity of products and a wide diversity ofpolitical interests in Europe so as to increase the influenceof these particular industries on the EuropeanCommission. (BBC2: 2230, 4.3.99)Thus of 125 statements on American strategy in thetrade crisis, only two gave any explanation, and thesewere limited to why specific European goods weretargeted.C.2.1.5. Responses and developmentsThis section includes responses to the crisis caused by theescalation of the banana dispute, and furtherdevelopments which arose. This was the second largestsection of the analysis of the banana dispute coverage,with 160 references. There were eight responses anddevelopments. One of the earliest responses, which wasreferred to on 20 occasions was a statement from thePrime Minister, repeated by other British politicians,saying that the American action was unacceptable:UK Prime Minister: This is an unacceptable procedureand we won’t have it. (ITN: 2200, 4.3.99)Further to this, the UK government promised tomake good any losses incurred by the British industriesaffected by the US imposition of tariffs. There were 7references like this:UK Prime Minister: We’ve made the arrangementsnecessary to give guarantees to the companies so that theycan keep going. (Sky News: 1800, 4.3.99)However, most of the references in this sectioninvolved statements about the flurry of diplomaticactivity which took place, with 34 relevant references:Reporter: The US ambassador hauled over the coals forthe second day running, the World Trade Organisation tomeet in emergency session and the US Secretary of Staterushing from Indonesia to London tomorrow.” (Channel4: 1900, 5.3.99)The majority here involved individual diplomaticincidents, negotiations and meetings, including anemergency meeting of the WTO:Newscaster: Yes, Tony Blair has had crisis talks on thephone with President Clinton in a bid to resolve theescalating banana trade crisis between Britain and theUS. (ITN: 1230, 5.3.99)Fourthly, 27 statements were made about the USambassador being summoned to the Foreign Office, firston the 4th of March and then for a second time the nextday. Some of these references were accompanied bycomments indicating the highly unusual nature of thisresponse:Reporter: American ambassadors aren’t accustomed tobeing summoned to see British government ministers.(BBC2: 2230, 4.3.99)Diplomatic editor: The American ambassador wassummoned to the Foreign Office to be told for the secondtime in 24 hours that US actions were unacceptable.(ITN: 2200, 5.3.99)At short notice, an arrangement was made for anemergency session at the WTO in Geneva on 8th March.This was referred to 12 times, prior to and following themeeting:Newscaster: The WTO is meeting today in a bid to endthe transatlantic banana war. (Channel 5: 1200, 8.3.99)Newscaster: Emergency talks in Geneva have failed toresolve the bitter trade row between Europe and the US.(BBC1: 2100, 8.3.99)Sixth, the diplomatic procedure referred to mostfrequently, with 46 references, was the arrival ofMadeleine Albright in London, for talks with the BritishForeign Secretary. Included here were 12 ratherconfusing references to the significance of the bananadispute on the agenda in the talks between the AmericanSecretary of State and the British Foreign Secretary:HEADLINE: Madeleine Albright flies in for anemergency summit. (ITN: 1740, 5.3.99)Reporter: Top of the agenda was the banana disputebetween the US and the EU which threatens an all outtrade war. (BBC1: 2220, 6.3.99)Newscaster: As Secretary of State Madeleine Albright isin London for talks on Kosovo, has found bananas themore pressing British concern. (ITN: 1300, 6.3.99)Newscaster: They were also expected to discuss themurder of British and American tourists in Uganda.(BBC1: 1820, 6.3.99)Reporter: Well, certainly the Foreign Office are trying toplay down the importance of them – saying they wereDFID – July 2000 27