Cdn Subsidies And Foreign Policy

[Craig Read]

Lumber. Potatoes. Wheat. Beef. Any and all products that are under the purview of Canada's socialist/Stalinist command structure ie. 'Marketing Boards', 'Price Boards' or 'the People's Board's' are being punished.

A NAFTA panel just ruled recently that Lumber is unfairly subsidised in Canada. Now the US has imposed tariffs on wheat.

If Canada had a more sensible foreign policy, less anti-Americanism, less hatred of being poorer than Americans, less EU whininess in its political elite and more balls in having a military and less reliance on the UNO, then these disputes could be solved in the old fashion way - men talking to men.

Since we don't have men anymore in Canada - being post modern and all - the US has to slap us around for breaking trade rules.

This is what happens when ur drivel and snivel about post modern nonsense.

============

Tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian wheat will be raised, following a decision by the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday.

The tariffs, which were imposed in the spring, had been between 10 and 12 per cent. With Friday's ruling, they will be raised to 14 per cent.

"We are disappointed with the U.S. Department of Commerce findings,"International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew said.

"Canadian wheat exports to the United States are fairly traded. They are not subsidized," he said.

That a boy Pettigrew. Wheat boards are just there to do what exactly then ?

[FastNed]

The problem with these damn Marketing Boards is that they really put the screws to consumers; prices are artificially raised, production is lowered and all of those with political clout get fat while the rest of us pay and pay and pay. Everyone in America pays an extra .20 cents per gallon of milk because the Milk Marketing Boards mandate lower production, get price supports passed and our kids pay this price to keep marginal producers in business or make

agribusiness very rich! And when this passes into the export channel, it makes major problems between us.

When they want to ship this stuff across a border, the politicians start yelling "these are my sheep to be fleeced, stay on your own side of the border and do it to your own!".

So long as we allow this sort of nonsense to prevail, we will continue to have problems. You can not export your internal price supports unless you have a rare monopoly product.

[Craig Read]

I agree, these boards are job programs for gov't and pay offs for political support and a tax on consumption.

There is no need for any of it, and frankly i am sick and tired of hearing farmers, and agribusiness cry about their tough life. If you can't compete go do something else and stop whining.

Stop taxing the rest of us or taking money from other tax payers to buy bigger ranches, homes and SUVs. My sympathy for these people is null. They cause unneeded problems and budgetary issues.

[Craig Read]

Plus you have to love the media spin. Canada subsidises rather clearly, its lumber industry. Both NAFTA and the WTO ruled AGAINST Canada's subsidies but asked the US to look again at its calculations of the duty.

So the US did and the rate went up from 19% to 30 %.

Good one Boys.

But not according to the fawning, drooling Cdn media, which pronounced both indictments as victories.

No wonder Cdns love the CBC - it creates their own little virtual and virtuous world.

==========

The WTO panel sided with the U.S. by ruling that logging fees set by Canadian provincial governments constituted a "financial contribution" to the Canadian lumber industry. But the panel also urged Washington to change its method for calculating the countervailing duties imposed in the case to conform with international law.

==============

[FastNed]

If the geniuses in Ottawa had not poisoned the well with the Bush administration, a face saving compromise could have been possible. A few symbolic gestures, a change or three by each in the manner supports were handled and a little good will should have prevailed - this was our historic method of resolving our cross-border controversies. Friends bent a little to accommodate each other. But that only works between friends.

Are we still friends? That is a question being asked with some frequency today in America. Recently, Victor Davis Hanson examined the question of our old WW II Friends and asked : "What is an ally?" in "The Awakening"

In our post 9 - 11 world, we have taken a hard look at those around us and discovered that we have been ignoring reality:

" the current meaning of "ally" too often reads as a state benefiting from American friendship that in turn expresses its thanks by gratuitous expressions of hostility in times of crisis." Shame on us for the blinders we have been wearing!

In looking specifically at Canada, he expressed this thought:

"We should never be angry with Canada, simply because we should never expect anything from it — inasmuch as it has long ago decided to emulate the European Union model. Let us respect its status as a neutral and pacifistic state that neither wishes nor deserves cooperation with the United States in defense matters."

Canada has ignored invitations (for several years) to join with us in planning for the anti-ballistic missile defense of North America and absent that cooperation, the anti-ballistic defense of North America ends at the Canadian Border. Canada's choice, not America's.

A very good question is if this "no cooperation" model should apply only in defense matters or should be applied in all trans-border issues, including free trade.

[Craig Read]

The snot nosed elite, with their diversity and multi-cultural psycho-babble, and their international theories of sameness, relativity, peace through dialogue, and support of terrorism through funding, understanding root causes and self blame, have taken the country down the wrong path.

I would not expect that the average Canadian, is represented by the post modern morons with their insane revisionist theories and their hyper sensitivity and hatred of self defence. But then again I could be wrong - maybe the entire country is populated by idiots and racists.

Self loathing which is at the root of all of this post modern babble, is not very attractive.

Its outward manifestation is anti-Jewish and anti-Americanism. Canada is a society in which Concordia students celebrated 9-11 -- and nothing happened to them.

This equivalency of socialism, with its attendant immorality and racism is the most troubling aspect of post modern Canada.

It is a technocratic, smug, and gutless philosophy.

[Craig Read]

Now yet another ruling by the NAFTA panel, this time condemning the level of US tariffs, and stating that subsidized lumber in Canada does not harm US lumber interests.

It might or might not, the real issue is however, Gov't subsidies in the Canadian lumber market. The NAFTA panel has not declared on this, but focused solely on US lumber welfare.

This is bizarre.

================

.....Bush administration could be forced early next year to abandon the 27.2 percent punitive duties on Canadian shipments of spruce, pine and fir and refund to Canadian companies, with interest, billions of dollars collected by the U.S. government since 2001.

Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew praised the NAFTA panel decision.

"I don't think they could have been clearer," Pettigrew told reporters in Ottawa. "We will continue to fight our case. But I can tell you one thing -- we are more confident than ever about our legal case."

==============

Yes but Cdn lumber is subsidised.........come on reform it.

[theloniusfleabag]

Wow, what a dead topic.

It was recently ruled that the US unfairly tariffed softwood lumber. The US then looked at imposing other penalties on 'those rich Canadians' to make the markets fair for 'the poor US'. At least the cast of 'Friends' gets a fair shake for the 20 gazillion per episode for what they contribute to society.

[Craig Read]

No the ruling - there have been 4 have stated the following:

1. Canada does subsidise unfairly its lumber industry

2. The US methodology to calculate the tariffs needs to be revised.

3. US industry has not been hurt by Cdn subsidies [this was the last decision].

Canada IS in violation of WTO rules. The debate is now what level of punitive action can the US take - right now the tariffs are at 29 % - Canada wants them reduced. The US says no, the level and methodology are sound. So my post said the obvious - why are Cdn taxpayers subsidising lumber ?

We would be better off without this - on both sides of the border. And you Flea have nothing to add on this - except of course Cdn moronic posturing - ie. 'We are the best !! hooray!!'

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Mr. Read,

If market forces were left alone to dictate the direction of industry, farming would cease and so would human life. Maximizing profits of wheat etc. have little real possibility, for food is a neccesity. Costs cannot be reduced by sourcing out land availability. To some degree, subsidization enables real needs to be met, freeing other monies for investments in wants. It is nice to have an SUV, but it is not nice to have to trade one for a loaf of bread.

I also grow weary of hearing childish name-calling in every one of your posts, and it only serves to weaken your arguments, and belittle your intelligence.

[Craig Read]

Whatever fleabag. You offer no proof that state sponsored tariffs or land ownership works. In my above posts i give out details and sources and solutions in contradistinction to your peurile ravings.

[Craig Read]

Canada can take a lead and unilaterally negotiate ending protectionist subsidies with 3rd world nations.

This would be a laudable and more worthy foreign policy goal than handing over $1 billion dollars to African regimes to waste.