Economic boycott is a means of protest against unacceptable acts or policies. It is widely practiced by groups and governments worldwide and has become a common expression of outrage. Until recently, Cuba was subjected to U.S. political and economic embargo, and the recent visit to Havana by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is unlikely to lead to a fundamental change in White House policy towards Fidel Castro.

A worldwide phenomenon

During the eighties, Washington blockaded the port of Managua, Nicaragua, in an attempt to weaken the Sandinista government, led by Daniel Ortega. And in its attempts to escalate the confrontation with Iran, the United States introduced a bill, proposed to Congress by Senator Al Faulsi D’Amato, which called for the prevention of big investments by multinational companies in oil projects, in both Iran and Libya, of more than $40 million dollars in a year. Iraq has been under an American embargo for the past twelve years, and action is being sought against Syria for busting the embargo by allowing Iraqi oil to flow through a pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Banias. None of these acts led to the fulfillment of U.S. aims, but they served to consolidate U.S. policies toward these countries.

Economic boycotting is not confined to belligerent states. Friendly countries often find themselves compelled to take action against each other as a means of pressure. European countries are now embroiled in a dispute with the United States on certain economic policies, such as the taxes imposed on steel imports, and calls for economic sanctions against the U.S. are coming from several quarters.

European Parliament in Strasburg adopted a resolution against the U.S. tilt towards unilateralism and its detachment from many international problems. The resolution condemned U.S. plans for extensive subsidies to the farm sector and called for trade disputes to be resolved according to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and possibly through bilateral negotiations. The House also called for a reinforcement of the transatlantic partnership based on equality.

There has been a growing unease among governments and parliamentarians in Europe with respect to U.S. economic policies, which were often viewed as contradicting the free market doctrine. There is now a big anti-U.S. lobby within both Friends of the Earth and anti-globalization movements. Following the withdrawal of the United States from the Kyoto agreement, there has been a big outrage against “Selfish Washington,” and violent demonstrations became a permanent feature of global economic meetings, especially those involving the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Local politicians have also called for actions against the United States for its undesirable policies. Last year, Simon Green, West Dorset Parliamentary Spokesman for the British Liberal Democrats, called on Dorset consumers and consumers throughout the UK to boycott American goods and products in the wake of President Bush’s announcement that the U.S. was withdrawing from the Kyoto agreement and reneging on their previous agreement to cut emissions of Greenhouse gases. America is the world’s largest polluter of greenhouse gases, amounting to almost one quarter of world pollution (24%). They had agreed to cut emissions by 7% but have failed to meet those targets. At their current rate of growth, they will account for over 30% of total emissions over the next decade.

On a similar note, a Canadian timber union called for a boycott of U.S.-owned businesses, such as Wal-Mart and Gap. The Industrial Wood and Allied Workers union is unhappy with a U.S. duty on lumber. Union President Dave Haggard says the action might escalate to include a union blockage at border crossings. At a union meeting in Vancouver, he said, “If they don’t want to buy our products why the hell should we support their industries?” The U.S. Department of Commerce imposed a 29 percent duty in the past few weeks on Canadian lumber to protect the U.S. industry. The action will raise the cost of a new house in the United States and threaten the jobs of thousands of Canadian workers.

Why not the Muslim world?

In light of these facts, and the continued U.S. policy in supporting Israel, there have been many calls for a boycott of U.S. goods by Muslim scholars throughout the Muslim world. Among them are Sheikh Yousef Al Qardhawi and Ayatullah Sayyed Mohammad Hussain Fadhlallah. People are gradually becoming more aware of the need to take action in this regard.

American goods in the Muslim world are becoming less popular. Some estimates have shown losses of American companies in the past few weeks – as a result of decisions by Muslim individuals to boycott U.S. goods – to have reached more than $200 million.

In a national rally, organized by the Pharmacists’ Association last month, angry Egyptians called for an immediate boycott of all American goods, as well as a halt to the export of Egyptian oil to Israel. In his fiery speech, Dr. Zakareya Gad, the association’s chairman, urged the participants to boycott all products bearing a “Made in USA” label, on the pretext that the Bush Administration was providing Israel with the arms it is using to annihilate the Palestinian people and occupy their cities. “Boycotting all American goods constitutes the first step on the road to supporting the Palestinians in their war against Israel,” Gad said. He described the U.S. as the real “axis of evil” that supported Israeli terror and aggression against Arabs.

People in the Gulf States have already started boycotting American goods in a move that is becoming a major campaign that could have serious political and economic implications. The governments have, however, refrained from making use of oil as an economic weapon and have discounted it as a policy. Boycotting U.S. goods may still have an effective impact on U.S. exporters, who would then take up the issue to the White House. Once again, people’s collective action is beginning to make a difference.

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