> "In 1987, the system of quotas established under the International Coffee > Agreement (ICA) started to fall apart. World prices plummeted, the Fonds > d'egalisation (the State coffee stabilisation fund) which purchased coffee > from Rwandan farmers at a fixed price started to accumulate a sizeable debt. > A lethal blow to Rwanda's economy came in June 1989 when the ICA reached a > deadlock as a result of political pressures from Washington on behalf of the > large US coffee traders. At the conclusion of a historic meeting of > producers held in Florida, coffee prices plunged in a matter of months by > more than 50%. For Rwanda and several other African countries, the drop in > price wreaked havoc. With retail prices more than 20 times that paid to the > African farmer, a tremendous amount of wealth was being appropriated in the > rich countries." > > > Stephen F. Diamond > School of Law > Santa Clara University > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
