[kach22i]

April 23, 2014
https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2014/04/current-negotiations-could-end-chicken-tax.html

The Chicken Tax History

During the Cold War, the U.S. chicken industry aggressively grew and what was once considered a luxury became a staple of the American diet. American chicken farmers started exporting their product around the world, and other countries accused farmers of unfair trade practices and artificially altering the meat. In response, France and West Germany, looking to protect local chicken production and a perceived threat to the health of their citizens, placed a tariff on the U.S. chicken imports. The U.S. responded in 1963, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, by placing a 25 percent tariff on potato starch, dextrin, brandy and light trucks — yes, light trucks.

The tariff worked and in 1964, West Germany truck imports declined to one-third of the imported number from 1963. VW van sales and imports rapidly declined to insignificant numbers.....................

During the past 50 years, the original tariff has been modified and removed on every product except for light trucks.