The Five Dumbest Tariffs: As the global recession deepens, countries go to extreme lengths to prop up their ailing industries.

The Five Dumbest Tariffs: As the global recession deepens, countries go to extreme lengths to prop up their ailing industries.
"Mexico: The Sunflower Seeds Must Pay
On March 11, when Obama signed the 2009 appropriations bill, he also ended a pilot program that had let a number of Mexican trucking companies carry their cargo into the United States. One week later, Mexico retaliated, leveling tariffs on 89 different American imports, including a tariff on Christmas trees (20 percent), dog food (10 percent), dental floss (15 percent), deodorant (15 percent), and toilet paper (10 percent).
"Mexico: The Sunflower Seeds Must Pay
(The blog Mexico Trucker Online posted this translated list of the Mexican tariffs.)
The Wall Street Journal reported that Mexican officials chose the specific tariffs by targeting businesses in the districts of influential U.S. legislators. For example, one of the items targeted is sunflower seeds-which grow in North Dakota. North Dakota happens to be the home state of Byron Dorgan, the Democratic senator who spearheaded the move to exclude Mexican truckers.
The Journal reported that Sen. Dorgan was "outraged" at the move. His office did not return a call from The Big Money.