Long Live Roquefort

Jill Erber - owner of Cheesetique in Alexandria, Virginia - defends free trade by defiantly selling French Roquefort cheese at her cost. She does so to highlight a punitive tariff imposed as the Bush Administration was about to leave office.

The tariff was to take effect on March 23, 2009. The Obama Administration has delayed the tariff by a month and may eliminate it altogether.

This video was produced by Austin Bragg and Caleb Brown.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• roquefort
• cheesetique
• alexandria
• virginia
• tariffs
• free
• trade
• caleb
• brown
• austin
• bragg
• cheese
• bush
• obama

[greginess7878]

I am SO GLAD THAT I DEFECTED from the States and moved to the UK....... I don't know WHAT I would have done had my supply been cut off!! To say that I LOVE Roquefort Cheese is a gross understatement!! I'm addicted to the stuff.........SERIOUSLY!!!  I have literally fallen on my knees and thanked gawd for the fact that I live in the EU........... and for the unending supply of cheap and super-delicious devine culinary perfection otherwise known as ...........ROQUEFORT!!!

[Kenro199x]

Well that's pretty messed up.

[TheCaptainLulz]

that sucks. I can get the stuff at the grocery store anytime here in Ontario.

[mumbs45]

@zaphodsdog

i am american living in the u.k too., i buy roquefort at about $16 a pound

love my euro cheeses

i don't have a mercedes...i ride a bicycle

a shame about the high tariffs...i wonder what what high tariffs exist on all the useless chinese garbage sent to the states that american eat up, they didn't help during the war either

[zaphodsdog]

@greginess7878

i'm glad you left too.

[zaphodsdog]

@doetim....there was a time when people who opposed tariffs were considered the right wing nuts. Now opposing tariffs is evidence of liberal free thinking?

The fact is that NAFTA and GATT have destroyed the american economy and the average american worker is suffering because if it. You can get in your Mercedes and go buy your Roquefort. Just make sure you flip a quarter to that homeless guy in front of the store...he probably worked at a steel mill...or an american dairy...once upon a time.

[doetim]

For some reason the right-wing nuts in the US hate France! There was so much france bashing during the Bush years and every Fox news person criticized France every chance they got and still do till this day (think Freedom Fries!). I think it had a lot to do with France's anti-Iraq war stance. I love France and its culture and food and I agree that the gov has no business interfering with our ability to consume good quality foods from foreign countries.

[alpacasmoker]

I'm glad to see you and others are fighting the good fight! SHELF!

[CalifaJohn]

If Israel were to only accept imported chicken that is kosher, an exporter can't try to leverage them into accepting non-kosher b/c there is no scientific evidence that it is different. And why did the Bush administration choose Roquefort cheese from among all EU products for a retaliatory tax? Why not Parmesan, Manchego, or Gouda? Because the French aren't shy about calling Republicans on their BS. Good riddance, Bush.

[CalifaJohn]

Imported food products have to meet the standards of the receiving country. The standards are sometimes based on science and sometimes based on belief, but the point is that the standards of import cannot be determined by the exporter. The US beef industry keeps arguing that there is no scientific evidence that hormone treated beef is detrimental to human health. The EU claims there is evidence, but even if there is no evidence, they still set their standards. (continued)

[TrumanBurbank00]

Just another tax on us common folks. The tariff doesn't penalize France it penalizes Americans.

[timlebsack]

Agreed. The United States government has no business interfering in trade. Individuals have the right to decide for themselves regarding their peaceful exchanges.