This article brings up an issue I haven't seen much about on this list. It seems to me that the U.S and maybe some of the larger EU countries will be able to obtain sufficient resources even when shortages are occurring elsewhere. NAFTA, for example, forbids either Canada or Mexico from curtailing the export of any commodity in times of shortage unless, they cut back an equal amount in their home countries. Next year there will be a big meeting in Quebec city to bring all countries in the hemisphere under these same trade rules. I would like to know what list members think the ramifications to the crash will be, if any, from these types of trade agreements, and conditional ties on loans. It seems to me that they buffer the U.S, at least, from feeling the full consequences of an energy shortage and would hence prolong U.S power. > >Moscow tries to calm IMF concerns over energy controls > >MOSCOW, Aug 30 (AFP) - Russian deputy prime minister Viktor Khristenko >attempted to justify Moscow's decision to reimpose energy sector controls >in talks Wednesday with International Monetary Fund and World Bank >officials here. > >At a meeting with the IMF's Moscow representative Martin Gilman and World >Bank representative Michael Carter, he said the measures were only >temporary and aimed at preventing energy shortages during the coming >winter, said ITAR-TASS news agency. > >The controls will force Russian oil companies to sell some of their >product on the home market even though they could make more money through >exporting. > >The restrictions were originally lifted in June on IMF insistence as part >of structural reforms it demanded in return for loans. > >The IMF has already said that the reimposition could delay new agreements, >Russian media reports said. > >Carter said that on September 12 the World Bank would be considering loans >to Russia worth about 200 million dollars for its coal and timber sectors. > >The Russian budget for 2001 is counting on IMF loans worth 1.8 billion >dollars and 900 million dollars from the World Bank. > >The IMF suspended loans to Russia in September last year because of the >lack of progres sin economic reforms. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. _______________________________________________ Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
