WTO SIDES WITH CANADA

[tml12]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...siness/Canadian

Now let's resolve this and get back to the business of providing Canadians with the best this continent's resources has to offer.

[August1991]

We have had numerous threads on this topic. I suggest a search on "softwood".

I will link to a thread about corn subsidies where Canadian corn producers are complaining of the same treatment American lumber producers complain of.

There is a kneejerk reaction in Canada and people rally round the flag. Jingoistic politicians play the issue to the anti-American crowd, many of whom know nothing about softwood lumber. Sadly, no one bothers to consider this issue more deeply.

The Canadian Left often decries the fact that Canadians are hewers of wood and drawers of water and Canada exports its raw materials with little added value. Well, here is a case where Americans claim that we subsidize Canadian producers and rather than consider that possibility, we blame the Americans!

Softwood is a renewable resource if it is properly maintained. There is good reason to suspect the provincial governments are not able stewards of this natural resource. It is likely that private sawmills are over-exploiting our forests.

In any case, the people who really suffer from these US counterveiling duties are American homebuyers. Trade is not a competitive sport, it is a team effort. If we retaliate, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

[tml12]

We have had numerous threads on this topic.  I suggest  a search on "softwood".

I will link to a thread about corn subsidies where Canadian corn producers are complaining of the same treatment American lumber producers complain of.

There is a kneejerk reaction here where people rally round the flag.  No one bothers to consider this issue more deeply.

The Canadian Left often decries the fact that Canadians are hewers of wood and drawers of water and Canada exports its raw materials with little added value.  Well, here is a case where Americans claim that we subsidize Canadian producers and rather than consider that possibility, we blame the Americans!

Softwood is a renewable resource if it is properly maintained.  There is good reason to suspect the provincial governments are not able stewards of this natural resource.  It is likely that private sawmills are over-exploiting our forests.

In any case, the people who really suffer from these US counterveiling duties are  American homebuyers.  Trade is not a competitive sport, it is a team effort.  If we retaliate, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed August.

We need, as I believe I mentioned, to get back to sharing the resources that belong to all Canadians and Americans and that includes having an enlightened, non-political debate on this issue.

[err]

We have had numerous threads on this topic.  I suggest  a search on "softwood".

I will link to a thread about corn subsidies where Canadian corn producers are complaining of the same treatment American lumber producers complain of.

There is a kneejerk reaction in Canada and people rally round the flag.  Jingoistic politicians play the issue to the anti-American crowd, many of whom know nothing about softwood lumber.  Sadly, no one bothers to consider this issue more deeply.

We all thank you for your attempt to demonstrate your admiration for the perceived sheer genius of your opinions. However, NAFTA panels have ruled over and over again in Canada's favour on this issue. I tend to suspect that the NAFTA panels are not exactly rife with anti-American sentiment.

Trade is not a competitive sport, it is a team effort.  If we retaliate, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Now bend over and accept the good trade.

[normanchateau]

  Trade is not a competitive sport, it is a team effort.  If we retaliate, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, if the scenario were reversed, the US would certainly not quibble about us illegally holding 5 billion of their dollars. They'd just bend over.

[August1991]

However, NAFTA panels have ruled over and over again in Canada's favour on this issue.  I tend to suspect that the NAFTA panels are not exactly rife with anti-American sentiment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The NAFTA panel used a traditional definition of subsidy. I am merely questioning whether private for-profit logging firms having access to a publicly-owned resource such as trees are likely to over-exploit that resource. No one seems to ask that question. Why?

In any case, the US counterveiling duty imposes a great cost on the US economy while providing a small benefit to a few US lumber producers. We would be foolish to imitate the Americans in this.

Trade is not a competitive sport, it is a team effort.  If we retaliate, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Now bend over and accept the good trade.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is unfortunate that you cannot make the distinction between rape and consensual sex.