French Cheese Emergency

(France) Last week, the U.S. government increased the import duties on Roquefort cheese by 300 percent in reported retaliation for France's refusal to accept American beef that has been administered growth hormones.

Some in France have been quick to see the new Washington measure as petty, belated revenge against the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" for their opposition to the 2003 Iraq invasion.

The Americans slapped new duty on an array of other EU food imports, including fruit, chocolate and chewing gum, but none was subject to the 300 percent reserved for roquefort.

Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier has called on President Obama to reverse the cheese decision or expect an economic attack against American products. McDonald's and Coca Cola were specifically named as targets in a weak threat.

The French are not holding their collective breath expecting action from Obama, though, since it was a fellow Democrat, Bill Clinton, who imposed the original tax on Roquefort cheese. Consequently, the French complaints will likely fade and they'll simply pay the import duty on the cheese and whine about it.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.