America's $24bn subsidy damages developing world cotton farmers | Glenys Kinnock | Global development | guardian.co.uk

America's $24bn subsidy damages developing world cotton farmers | Glenys Kinnock | Global development | guardian.co.uk: "President Obama will no doubt focus on many matters of great international importance. I think cotton should be one of them. I have seen for myself just how vital cotton is for millions of farmers in west Africa and the damage caused to their livelihoods by developed country subsidies. I have pressed for EU reform, but action from the United States is critical.

President Obama could, and should, take a lead in addressing this.

The US government continues to subsidise its cotton farmers – $24bn (£15bn) over the past 10 years – despite the World Trade Organisation ruling some of these subsidies illegal. And when the WTO backed Brazil's case that the subsidies were damaging, the US government simply offered to pay subsidies to Brazilian farmers too."