>Message #63377 from dybdahl at Nov 26, 2001 1:08 PM
Do you really think that justice systems should take revenge? Are you sure that the American courts would fine german car makers because a US company failed to comply with European laws? If that would be the case, the problems between Europe and the USA is of a much higher scale.
And frankly, I don't see how a president of the USA can care about a merger between two private companies. I thought he was the president of the USA, not of some company board. Or do you think he is bribed/paid? Then you should say so.
Mario Monte is under strong pressure from the European countries and voters to increase his activity level on all fronts. USA is not part of this - the main targets are in Europe. Microsoft is just a company that has benefitted from being US until now - soon it's European activities will be watched as closely as if it was a European company.
If USA would start a trade war about Microsoft, Microsoft can forget about any decent future in Europe, and forget all they ever dreamt about a dominating market position on the world market. I am pretty sure that Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates will do everything they can to prevent this from reaching government level.
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It is not revenge. IT IS THE DETERENCE. The Japanese, Korean and European have played the hardball on trade for a long time. American won't start the trade war (for a record, it won't benefit either side of the Atlantic) but it will finish it. Europeans talk both side of the trade issue. On one hand, it conplaints about monopoly and price supporting and all about everyone else (American companies included) but European governments on the other hand own or subsidy whole range of industries (AirBus is majority owned by government, French own Minitel and Renault...) The list goes on and on.... I did not see US govenment own any company.
The last time I check, Microsoft and its employees do pay taxes to the US government, so you bet that US will protect its interest and go to trade war with Europe if it has to. You know something. Microsoft can afford to miss its billion fine but Can Mercedes, BMW, VW or Nokia afford to miss the US market???
Mario Monte is like a frog sitting in the bottom of the well and thinks the sky is only 4 ft in diameter. Someone needs to teach him a real lesson.
Mike |
