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.

Which of the options give the best explanation and why?

OA E