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605-655 (Medium)|   Weaken|      
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TheUltimateWinner
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 11:26
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70% (02:09) correct 30% (02:23) wrong based on 1489 sessions

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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon from Country B in order to protest poor protection of intellectual property rights in Country B. An economist counters that such a ban would be ineffective, since Country B would circumvent it by selling the extra salmon in Europe. Indeed, last year, six European nations each imported more salmon than Country B exported to the United States.

Which of the following, if true, would most severely weaken the economist's argument?

(A) Salmon is the chief export of Country B, accounting for a substantial proportion of its export earnings over each of the last three years.
(B) The supply of native salmon has become increasingly limited in certain parts of North America in the past decade, including many parts of the United States.
(C) Salmon from Country B is considered a delicacy in all of the European nations that imported salmon last year.
(D) The economic value to U.S. companies of the adoption of intellectual property regulations in Country B is greater than the value of salmon exports from Country B.
(E) Costs for the transportation of salmon from Country B to Europe would make salmon from Country B more expensive for European consumers than salmon imported from other countries.
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TheUltimateWinner
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 11:28
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D means what?

We have to prove that the US consideration of ban on the importation of salmon from Country B will be effective.
E says: The overall cost for importing salmon in European country from country B is more than other country. So, to make weaken the economist's argument, we have to prove that the European country will no longer import salmon from country B. My Question is: how do we be sure that ''not a single European'' will import salmon from country B?
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 12:05
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D means what?

We have to prove that the US consideration of ban on the importation of salmon from Country B will be effective.

E says: The overall cost for importing salmon in European country from country B is more than other country. So, to make weaken the economist's argument, we have to prove that the European country will no longer import salmon from country B. My Question is: how do we be sure that ''not a single European'' will import salmon from country B?
Thanks...
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US : Planning a ban on importing salmon from country Y , to protest poor protection of IP rights there.
Cntry B : US's ban on salmon will be ineffective since the same will be sold to European countries ( Where there is existing demand).

(D) The economic value to U.S. companies of the adoption of intellectual property regulations in Country B is greater than the value of salmon exports from Country B.

Eco Value to US from the ban on import of Salmon > Value of Exports of Salmon from Country B

You have already got the point that - " ban on the importation of salmon from Country B will be effective. " and truly option (D) does nothing to prove that.

(E) Costs for the transportation of salmon from Country B to Europe would make salmon from Country B more expensive for European consumers than salmon imported from other countries.

If European countries can import Salmon from other countries at a cheaper price then they will not import Salmon from Country B and thus this will weaken the conclusion arrived by the Economist.

This between (D) and (E) , (E) looks good...
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 12:22
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Abhishek009

If European countries can import Salmon from other countries at a cheaper price then they will not import Salmon from Country B and thus this will weaken the conclusion arrived by the Economist.[/color]
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how do we be sure that ''not a single European'' will import salmon from country B? if at least ''a single amount'' is being exported to European country from country B, then how US department's ban on salmon will be effective?
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 12:31
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Abhishek009

If European countries can import Salmon from other countries at a cheaper price then they will not import Salmon from Country B and thus this will weaken the conclusion arrived by the Economist.[/color]
how do we be sure that ''not a single European'' will import salmon from country B? if at least ''a single amount'' is being exported to European country from country B, then how US department's ban on salmon will be effective?
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Dear iMyself

Check the conclusion arrived at by the Economist -

Quote:
An economist counters that such a ban would be ineffective, since Country B would circumvent it by selling the extra salmon in Europe. Indeed, last year, six European nations each imported more salmon than Country B exported to the United States.
Show more

The sentence here means -

Sales in 6 European nations > Sales in US

Thus this statement tells us that it doesn't matter if US doesn't import Salmon , Country B can sell the extra Salmon in Europe.

However we do not need to go that far that ''not a single European'' will import Salmon , even if one / two country stops importing Salmons from Country B then the ban on Import of Salmon in US will have some effect.

Our target is to show that the Ban on Import of Salmon in US will have a negative effect in Country B and among the given options only (E) fits in perfectly...
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 19 Sep 2016, 13:04
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Abhishek009

If European countries can import Salmon from other countries at a cheaper price then they will not import Salmon from Country B and thus this will weaken the conclusion arrived by the Economist.[/color]
how do we be sure that ''not a single European'' will import salmon from country B? if at least ''a single amount'' is being exported to European country from country B, then how US department's ban on salmon will be effective?

Dear iMyself

Check the conclusion arrived at by the Economist -

Quote:
An economist counters that such a ban would be ineffective, since Country B would circumvent it by selling the extra salmon in Europe. Indeed, last year, six European nations each imported more salmon than Country B exported to the United States.

The sentence here means -

Sales in 6 European nations > Sales in US

Thus this statement tells us that it doesn't matter if US doesn't import Salmon , Country B can sell the extra Salmon in Europe.

However we do not need to go that far that ''not a single European'' will import Salmon , even if one / two country stops importing Salmons from Country B then the ban on Import of Salmon in US will have some effect.

Our target is to show that the Ban on Import of Salmon in US will have a negative effect in Country B and among the given options only (E) fits in perfectly...
Show more
US department's challenge: not a single amount of salmon is exported to other country.
Economist's said: the US department will fail to keep its challenge. That means: B will still export its salmon to other country.
Weaken: i've to say something which goes against the Economist's saying. That means: ''not a single amount'' will be exported to other country.
In E, your are the inhabitant of England. If Italy does not import from country B, will not you import as a representative of England. Is there any indication in E that NO European will import from country B? The Italian may not have more money, but YOU (only you, the representative of England) may have more money to buy after increasing the cost of Salmon.
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 27 Mar 2020, 00:20
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D. If US companies in country B have IP rights, their economic value > the value of total salmon exports from B.

But we are not sure once the US bans the salmon exports from country B, whether B will improve its IPR protection (so that it could benefit the US companies) or not. If not, the ban is ineffective.

E. B has higher price than other countries -> European countries will be hestitate to import from B. Even 6 European coutries import more but we are not sure whether that total import value is larger the the US's, especially when we consider the hesitation agaisnt the high price of B's salmon.
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The united States is considering a ban on the importation of salmon fr 07 Aug 2025, 06:57
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