23 Feb 2006
China Bans Cartoons That Blend Animation

Conservatives are constantly complaining about the "Hollywood elite" and their often rabid support of protectionist measures and general anti-globalization attitudes. They don't seem to understand that Hollywood is acting in it's own economic self-interest in these initiatives: it's frequently American cultural products (such as the ones being banned here) that bear the brunt of foreign protectionist measures.

Nobody has yet explained to me what's free about trade that allows China to sell their products here, and also allows them to ban imports of our products. I'm sure that the US Trade Representative will engage in "serious negotiations" with the Chinese on this issue - for at least ten years, with the Chinese dragging their feet all the way. By that time their native animation production facilities will have overtaken ours, by way of having a captive audience in the worlds largest market. We'll finally reach an agreement allowing the import of our films into China, but we won't have any to sell. The whole incident will be declared a "victory for free trade" ... and another American industry will be left in shambles.

Is it any wonder that Hollywood uses it's political influence to try and stem the tide? There can be no such thing as free trade on a one way street.

AP - "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" could be out of the picture in China — along with many other cartoon favorites.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

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