News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinewar-on-terrorunited-statesdissent — Viewing Item


Saudi boycott hits US exports

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020620/ts_nm/usa_saudi_trade_dc_2

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020620/ts_nm/usa_saudi_trade_dc_2
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0620-01.htm

Popular Boycott Hits U.S. Exports to Saudi Arabia
Thu Jun 20, 5:48 AM ET
By Rawhi Abeidoh

DUBAI (Reuters) - A boycott of U.S. goods by Saudis angered by Washington's Middle East policies has led to a sharp fall in U.S. exports to Saudi Arabia, diplomats and economists said on Thursday.


Official U.S. figures show exports plunged 33 percent to $2.8 billion between September, the month that suicide-bombers, most of them Saudis, attacked U.S. cities, and March.

In the first quarter of 2002, exports fell 43 percent to $986 million from $1.74 billion a year earlier.

Many Saudi consumers have shifted to European and Japanese products, encouraged by campaigners wearing Palestinian checkered headscarves who have distributed leaflets at mosques, schools and shopping malls, residents said.

They urge Saudis to boycott U.S. household items, vehicles, food and beverages, fast-food restaurants and tobacco in protest at Washington's perceived pro-Israel bias and anti-Saudi campaigns by some U.S. senators and media following the September 11 attacks.

"The reason (for the drop in exports) is definitely political. The boycott of made in U.S.A. products is a major contributor to this sharp drop," said Bisher Bakheet, managing director of Bakheet Financial Advisors.

Oil power Saudi Arabia is the biggest energy supplier to the United States, with two-way trade estimated at $20 billion.

Saudi exports to the United States also fell 36 percent to $2.44 billion during the first quarter year-on-year from $3.83 billion, but economists attributed the drop to lower oil prices and output curbs in line with OPEC ( news - web sites) efforts to defend revenues.

Diplomats said although U.S. exports accounted for only a fraction of its global trade, the steep decline appeared to show the depth of anti-U.S. sentiment in the conservative Muslim kingdom, which is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians.

BOYCOTT WORRYING

The U.S. embassy in Riyadh said Saudis shunning American products was worrying. But it cited other factors, including the appreciation of the dollar and shrinking defense contracts from U.S. firms, the kingdom's biggest arms suppliers.

"The fact is that the impact of the boycott is very significant...Yes, we are concerned. But exactly how big this impact is very hard to determine without a detailed study," said Charley Kestenbaum, the U.S. embassy's commercial officer.

"Many U.S. businessmen have put off travel plans to Saudi Arabia since September 11 and some projects have been shelved or canceled," Kestenbaum told Reuters by telephone from Riyadh.

He said U.S. firms delivered civilian and military aircraft, worth $777 million in 2000, down from $5 billion in 1998.

"Does that mean they are boycotting American aircraft? No. There is no government boycott. There is a popular boycott."

Kestenbaum expected total exports to shrink around 20 percent in 2002 from $5.97 billion in 2001 when they fell six percent drop from the year before. Besides aircraft, Saudi imports machinery, food products, furniture and vehicles.

The anti-U.S. campaign, launched after a Palestinian uprising erupted in September 2000, has intensified since a large-scale Israeli offensive on the West Bank in March.

"This boycott is quite effective. I don't think the appreciation of the U.S. dollar is the main reason for declining U.S. exports," said Ibrahim Foudah, executive director of Saudi Export Association.

Japanese diplomats said provisional figures showed that exports to Saudi Arabia soared around 20 percent year-on-year during the first quarter from 90.7 billion yen ($731 million).

French exports rose to 535 million euros during the first four months of 2002, a 12.9 percent rise from a year earlier, said Philippe Fouet, commercial officer at the French embassy.



3 04 03 yankee hphoto [jpg]
America is weakest link { May 16 2002 }
American war is great charade { July 14 2002 }
Arabs boycott US goods { July 28 2002 }
Arabs responds with mecca cola { December 31 2002 }
Argentina burned treasury secretary photo { August 6 2002 }
Armed man looking for general franks
Arrogant uncle sam needs new image { July 30 2002 }
Athletes told not to wave flag at olympics
Bags and shirts for embarrsed americans going to france
Blast rips indonesian mcdonalds { December 5 2002 }
Brazil fined american for gesture
Britain blames US for world poor { August 26 2002 }
Bush poor image overseas { February 24 2003 }
Cronkite warns ww3
Egyptians hold unfavorable view of US { July 23 2004 }
Eu furious with bush speech { February 9 2002 }
Explosions rock moscow mcdonalds { October 19 2002 }
Four marines gang stabbing attack { July 31 2003 }
French farmer ransacked mcdonalds { August 1 2002 }
Germans call US police state { May 6 2003 }
Germans place miniature US flags in dog poo
Join_war [jpg]
Lebanon mcdonalds rocked
Local soldiers attacked { April 11 2003 }
Marines attacked by gang members
Nazi US flag [jpg]
Negative feelings have grown since iraq war began { March 17 2004 }
Nkorea says treat is excuse for war spending { February 8 2002 }
Opinion of us abroad is falling { March 17 2004 }
Powell heckled summit { September 4 2002 }
Powell summit [jpg]
Powell tells europe to stop bashing american { May 18 2002 }
Probe anti americanism
Puerto rico mob attacks marines { April 23 2002 }
Rift between US and world { June 3 2003 }
Saudi boycott hits US exports
Saudi boycott of US spreads { May 14 2002 }
Schroeder apologizes for hitler comparison
Somalis cheer at blackhawk movie { January 23 2002 }
State dept seminar on anti americanism { August 30 2002 }
This war is on terrorism is bogus { September 6 2003 }
Time poll 1 17 03 great danger [jpg]
Us and israel beat axis of evil { October 31 2003 }
US approach to terrorism creates hate
Us slams german for hitler comment { September 19 2002 }
US voted of UN human rights panel
World image of US declines { December 5 2002 }
World view of US deteriorated internationally { January 23 2007 }

Files Listed: 49



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple