Law news
US at odds with world on cultural treaty
The US appears set on a collision course with the rest of the world, this time over a treaty to promote cultural diversity that Washington claims could provide protectionist cover for restrictions on US exports of films and television programmes.
Despite strenuous US efforts to have a decision postponed, the draft treaty is due to be adopted by the 191 members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) meeting in Paris. Washington cannot veto the pact, though it says it will not sign up to it.John Bellinger, legal adviser to Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, speaking on a visit to London, said the US did not oppose promotion of cultural diversity but was concerned that the treaty would be used for “French protectionism”. At Unesco, however, the hardline US stance has caused consternation and frustration. “The US is trying to do everything it can to reopen the negotiations when the rest of the world is in favour of the current text,” said a Paris-based European diplomat.“There is very strong support for the treaty, not only from Europe, but from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab nations and the Asia-Pacific region,” he said, noting that the US was earlier outvoted on a related procedural matter by 158 to 1. The US is worried that countries such as France and Canada may use the treaty to justify restrictions on US audio-visual exports as a way of supporting local cultural industries.
Source: FT (Financial Times).
