Enunciados de questões e informações de concursos
Text
Most trade between friendly nations, particularly those who operate within the multilaterally agreed rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other relevant international agreements, proceeds smoothly. However, disputes do arise, and they fall into three main categories: (i) Conflicts of policy between sovereign governments which then have an impact on their mutual trade and investment; (ii) Disputes over practical trade actions which are initiated by governments, or get escalated to the intergovernmental level; and (iii) Disputes over the proper application to trade of internationally agreed standards in broader policy areas like environmental protection or labour conditions. All such disputes require diplomatic intervention, sometimes by generalist diplomats, but most often by technical trade specialists.
Sometime ago, the most visible trade-related dispute was that between the United States Government and BP over the disastrous Macondo oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. However, this is not a typical case. The principal company involved happens to be UK-based (though BP has almost as many US shareholders as British), but a similar disaster could occur at any time to a US-based operator. No intergovernmental differences of substance are at stake — the British Government became involved only indirectly, and because of the knock-on effects which the costs of this accident will have on BP shareholders and on pension funds in the UK.
Michael Johnson. The impact of political and diplomatic disputes on international business activity. Internet: <www.ibde.org> (adapted.).
Decide whether the following statements are right or wrong according to text.
Never before has there been a dispute between the US Government and BP.
Outras questões do mesmo concurso: IRBr / Diplomata / 2016
