Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:16820 comp.sys.atari.st:8652 comp.sys.ibm.pc:13806 comp.sys.mac:14510 sci.electronics:2615 comp.arch:4108
Path: utzoo!yunexus!unicus!craig
From: craig@unicus.UUCP (Craig D. Hubley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac,sci.electronics,comp.arch
Subject: GATT declares U.S. - Japan chip pact illegal
Message-ID: <2441@unicus.UUCP>
Date: 28 Mar 88 18:20:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: unicus.2441
Posted: Mon Mar 28 13:20:55 1988
Reply-To: craig@unicus.UUCP (Craig D. Hubley)
Organization: Unicus Software Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Lines: 35


The price-fixing deal that the U.S. forced on Japan to keep its own chip
manufacturers (TI and Micron) in business, that has forced chip prices to
four times their level (here, at least!) of ten months ago, has been 
declared illegal by GATT, the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs,
the international body governing world trade.  The gist of it is that
the pact has forced chip prices up, and supplies down, in Europe and Canada.

The complete text of the Financial Times article has been posted to comp.misc

I apologize for the massive cross-posting (usually the mark of a flame :-)),
but microcomputer and electronics consumers should be aware of this, the 
last paragraph of the article:

``According to trade diplomats in Geneva, the U.S. is pressing Japan not to
  abandon the semiconductor deal.  It has suggested that by abandoning one 
  or two of its elements the Japanese could change their monitoring from the 
  coherent system the GATT panel found objectionable.''

If you work in computer or perhipheral manufacturing, software, retailing, or 
are just a consumer, you should probably write your congresscritter right now
in support of the ruling.  This pact is crippling all of these industries, as
I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone.  In an election year, they may prove
to be subject to pressure, especially *presidential candidates*.  Just how
many high-tech votes are there ?  Not to mention, with code-cracking hackers
and electronic photo-retouching and other high-tech sabotage, would you want
them voting against you ?  Emphasize your campaign computer cracking skills.
1/2 :-)

Save the whales.  Scrap the pact.  Yay GATT.

	Craig Hubley, Unicus Corporation, Toronto, Ont.
	craig@Unicus.COM				(Internet)
	{uunet!mnetor, utzoo!utcsri}!unicus!craig	(dumb uucp)
	mnetor!unicus!craig@uunet.uu.net		(dumb arpa)