Jim, your case is clearer!

What you wish for is a "black and white" import/ export situation for the US to be put into place,
whilst respecting the wishes of the individual importing countries!

But what if the respective country wishes to ban general commerce of bee stocks etc. from US (and
anywhere else). as a hygiene measure - then wishes to import material for research/development
purposes - you are proposing that due to the imposition of a "partial ban" on US material, the
response is to be one of a total embargo (bee material) towards that country.

You are asking for all or nothing?

This would still not result in your wish for efficient bio-security systems.

It is a form of economic blackmail! - unless you are totally committed to isolating US bee stocks
from external diseases and infections.
And if the latter is the case - then why not go for a total ban on all imports/ exports.

To make it clear, my position is that as you partially suggest - the imposition of a valid point of
entry check system - (with inherent weak point that it will only check for items that are in the
known domain)
So, secure the home territory - if that's what is deemed as necessary

- but allow specified material to be exchanged where it be considered to be in the interest of the
receiving country.

The point in debate is then, what is considered as useful and by whom, involving arguments that may
insist in the imposition of short term hardship before the new "status quo" arrives.

It is for the US to decide on its export/import policy - but if it is to be one of all or nothing
depending only  whether the recipient country has a policy that is to advantage the original source
- difficult to support!

A hygiene purist may consider the case as one that suggests total ban on movement of bee materials,
with the development of stocks in hand.
>From a pragmatic stance - any closure to trade is only of short term benefit - what ever is being
sought to control will eventually arrive if biologically possible. The imposition of frontier
controls may hinder infestation.
I tend towards the gray solution - tight import/export controls, with lea way for specialist
material to be freely traded.

Whether that comes about in a particular country depends on the democratic process - unless of
course, it is imposed upon the masses for their better well being!

But,  then we can always change the imposers can't we!

Peter

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