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Iran Buys Wheat from US - Could there be a McDonalds Coming Next? |
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Posted by Truth About Trade & Technology
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Thursday, 21 August 2008 |
Opening a McDonalds in Tehran may not be on anyone's radar screen right now, but could it be coming next? The Wall Street Journal reported today that Iran bought wheat from the U.S. for the first time in almost three decades (August 21, 2008 - "Iran Buys Wheat From U.S. For First Time in 27 Years"). Trade and peace often go hand in hand.
The article lists factors that have made the current transaction a reality. First, Iran's choices for wheat access is limited because of an expected poor harvest due to drought. And second, there simply is not another choice for them to obtain the quantity and quality they need. It is not a decision that would have been taken lightly by either Iran or the United States, given the continuing tensions.
Thomas Friedman, in his "Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention" has argued the point that countries that have a McDonalds probably will not go to war with each other. The reasoning behind the theory: Trade has increased the cost of war. There is more to lose economically between nations that trade. While there probably will not be Big Macs in Tehran anytime soon, it takes small steps to get started. Agricultural trade is not a bad place to start.
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