Trade in Everything: French Fries

OK, technically speaking it is trade in potatoes, but french fries made for a better title:

Anyone who has been to a soccer game in Europe knows that fries and burgers are among the most popular food items on sale at football grounds. So, it must have come as a shock when Switzerland's potato industry association warned supplies of the lowly spud were running low -- just weeks before Euro 2008, the continent's biggest soccer tournament, gets underway.

But fans heading to Switzerland for next month's tournament can rest assured they will not have to do without fries. The Swiss government has taken measures to ease the potato shortage. A spokesman for the country's Department of Agriculture told Swiss radio station RadioDRS Wednesday that the government would allow an extra 5,000 tons of potatoes to be imported.

Comments

[Bryan Mercurio]

I think the more interesting story from a trade perspective is the accompanying article on the EU's ban of Brazilian beef intestines (for sausage).

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,529306,00.html

[Simon Lester]

Yes, "Trade in Everything: Brazilian Beef Intestines" has a nice ring to it!