Thus, recent trade negotiations have a surreal air about them, because, whatever their outcome, ultimately cotton subsidies will have to go. Brazil, frustrated with America’s intransigence, brought a case against US cotton subsidies before the WTO, which ruled as almost any economist would: the subsidies distort world trade and are therefore prohibited.
于是，不久前的贸易谈判就具有了超现实主义的色彩，无论结果如何，棉花补贴最终都要取消。美国在谈判中的强硬态度使巴西大为光火，于是向世贸组织提起了针对美国棉花补贴的诉讼，世贸组织的裁决在所有经济学家的意料之中：棉花补贴扭曲了世界贸易，因此必须予以取缔。