During UNESCO's recent biannual conference at its Paris headquarters, the United States remained adamant in its opposition to the conclusion of an international convention on cultural diversity. On the surface it appears that the U.S. position is mainly motivated by trade interests. The U.S. seems to be worried that this concept of cultural diversity might be abused to distort international trade. Many American negotiators recall that in the last stage of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, the French government, among others, insisted on cultural exceptions to the international convention on investment and free trade.

Meanwhile, the French and other Europeans are worried about the preponderance of so-called cultural industries controlled by American capital, typified by Hollywood's domination of the global film industry. They are seeking to safeguard domestically produced film, television, music, literature and art based on the argument that these representations of culture merit preservation for their own sake. The American opposition to the convention on cultural diversity appears to stem from concern over the means that governments may employ to protect local cultures when faced with large-scale inroads from foreign cultural industries.

American opposition to the convention, however, also seems to go beyond simple economics. Many Americans seem reluctant to recognize some of the concepts that underpin the importance of cultural diversity because, in their view, calls for cultural diversity are sometimes made as a way to oppose American cultural influence. As long as groups working to resist American ideals or principles employ cultural diversity as a catchword, it is quite natural for Americans to be reluctant to embrace this expression as a synonym for international efforts to protect the world's wealth of cultures and traditions precious to the entire human community.