RE: Consolidation and currency....factRbestSonny, I'm not at all suggesting a continuance of a De Beers monopoly or any other for that matter. The short version of what I think is whoever ends up with the Canadian diamonds will be in an enviable "world market" position.
A vertically integrated company doesn't need a monopoly if they have a product that is in greater demand than what it's competitors have to offer, even at a higher price.
US Federal trade laws wouldn't influence what one could set up in
other regions of the world. I don't think the trade laws would hinder the establishment of retail outlets in the US that are selling their
own "brand". After all you can't get a Starbucks at Tim Hortons.
As for the duct & duck tape thing, duct
tape is a fix all tool isn't it?
Duck tape?.......probably used for something exciting but illicit and not appropriate in this forum.