Negotiating With Other Countries

Negotiating with Other Countries

Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds (Centers for Disease Control, 2006). Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. So, what does this have to do with negotiations? Believe it or not, the government today is highly negotiating with other countries to embark a policy of eliminating this high risk disease. This paper will briefly describe the United State's objective in dealing with this high-risk deadly disease. To start off, it is important to discuss what our government is doing right now to prevent humans from receiving the bird flu.

According to an article by Delthia Ricks titled, "Concerns for Long Island, U.S. over bird flu vaccine," she indicates that the Homeland Security Secretary predicts that the virus could reach the United States within a few months (Ricks, 2006). After reading this article, it was quite interesting to research further on this ordeal. Based on concerns about this highly contagious virus and its potential to cause illness in humans, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have taken steps to prevent importation of birds and bird products from countries with the virus. Border controls and poultry import bans are among the strategies nations are using to protect their flocks from migrating. The United States first imposed an embargo on birds and bird products from nations affected by this highly pathogenic form of avian influenza in February 2004. On March 6, 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services amended the embargo to forbid such imports from Nigeria and Egypt (Centers for Disease Control).

Many U.S. companies have been negotiating with companies in China, India, and Vietnam to persuade to open vaccine factories in American soil (so there would be no problems with the supply in case of an epidemic were to occur). Our government has instituted policies on goal interdependence. According to Lewicki, Saunders, and Barry, "How the parties view their goals--and how much achievement of their goal depends on the behavior of the other party--has a strong impact on how likely parties will be to constructively use power" (Lewicki et al., 2006), p. 196). The President has worked with other countries to come up with strategies to deviate this disease:

Already, 88 countries and nine international organizations have joined the effort, and the Partnership's first meeting was recently convened in Washington. The President has requested $251 million from Congress to help foreign partners train personnel, expand surveillance and testing, draw up and enhance preparedness plans, and