Cultural Protectionism in the European Union Essay -- national film ind

Since the 1980s the European articulation (EU) is pursuing a more liberal duty policy in its multilateral trade negotiations. This liberal approach is the result of the change in company preferences in favour of free trade. The change in business preferences also make politicians to support trade relaxation behavior. (Young, 2007) While the EU is a lead service when it comes to traditional trade policy, it is rather reluctant regarding the liberalisation in other(a) trade areas. The European audiovisual industry is a good suit to demonstrate the EUs protectionist approach. Though there are countries, above all the United States, who are in contrary to the EU, great supporters of the entire liberalisation of audiovisual industry. The US government seeks for liberalization of audiovisual service within the framework of General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), while other countries, such as the member states of the European Union see the US and the World Trade Organizati on (WTO) as a threat to their film industry and national culture. In this write up within the European audiovisual sector I will focalisation on the European film industry. The main question of the paper wherefore does the EU pursue protectionist policy in suit of its audiovisual sector, when in general it is expected to follow liberal trade policy? In order to explain the EUs behaviour, Alasdair R. Youngs (2007) percentage of trade policy will be used as theory-based framework. Young differentiates three aspects of trade policy traditional trade policy, commercialized policy, social trade policy. Traditional trade policy includes tariffs and other valued measures, occurring at the border in order to discriminate foreign goods. With the gussy up of export orientation of European manuf... ... WTO members commitment in audiovisual work very low. (WTO, 2009) None of the EU member states, nor any other European countries made commitments to liberalize its audiovisual sector, but they all asked for exemption from the MFN principle. On the other side only two countries with considerable economy opted for the liberalisation US and New Zealand. (Puppis, 2008) What would happen with the film industry in case of the liberalization of audiovisual sector? Why the EU and the member states are so resistant in this matter? Without the MFN exemption, or with more elongated liberalization would lead to increase commercialization, even bigger US/ Hollywood share in the European cinemas and televisions. Under the MFN principle the European Union and its member states would not be allowed to set up programs like MEDIA, or quotas for European content. (Puppis, 2008)