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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: unclewest who wrote (11546)	11/25/2001 6:00:47 PM
From: axial	Respond to of 281500

Hi, unc - The US/Canada software lumber problems have proven to be extremely difficult. In Canada, by far the majority of lumber-producing land is Crown land. However, in the Maritimes, in particular, where more land is in private ownership, the impact of recent duties has ben less severe. The United States has refused to accept a string of decisions in Canada's favor on this matter, so the latest American actions strike many Canadians as punitive. They ask, with some reason, "What is the point of these mechanisms if nobody will abide by the decisions?" Nevertheless, the matter will be reviewed again. The questions of the cost of the land on which the wood grows (ie., Crown vs. private, Crown vs. corporate, Crown vs. Federal), and the accounting methods that incorporate those costs into the final price of the lumber are a source of considerable scepticism, on both sides of the issue. It is difficult to overstate the impact this dispute has had in Canada: it has had an immediate effect on tens of thousands of jobs, and a residual effect on hundreds of thousands of jobs. Some have estimated the damage to be the equivalent of 5 million jobs in the States. Others state the equivalency as closer to 2 million (using a proportioning multiple of 10, a traditional finger-in-the-wind way of comparing our countries). It is evident that American claims of economic hardship have something behind them. Canadian claims are equally disturbing. Many have thrown more heat, than light on the matter; reactions of outrage, and anger are the norm. Unfortunately, they contribute little, to knowledge or understanding. Months ago, the question of the impact of higher lumber prices on new housing, and the economy was noted on both sides of the debate. It is generally agreed that this is the wrong time for such an increase. OTOH, at some time, in some way, the matter has to be definitively addressed, and taken off the table. It is a recurring irritant which is poisoning our relationship. Canada and the United States have surmounted larger obstacles than this. I have some hope for resolution of the problem. One thing's for sure: failure to find an answer has terrible implications for Free Trade, and the reduction of protectionism. Some have suggested that is what's driving this, and that the Softwood Lumber dispute is "the thin edge of the wedge" designed to dismantle NAFTA. Who knows? Regards, Jim

To: unclewest who wrote (11546)	11/26/2001 12:49:49 AM
From: marcos	Respond to of 281500

uncle, they are soiling your stars 'n stripes ... look deeper, beyond the little propaganda blurbs they put out, find out what they're really up to, not what they say they're up to ... you're right, there's two sides to this - i plan to stand up and fight for Truth and Beauty, which pits me against the other side, that den of snakes you've got down there in Washington DC .... couple of quick examples of the distortions necessary to their effort - 1. the 'Commerce' department rules required them to show x per cent increase quarter-on-quarter to impose on us the first penalty [i believe this was 25%? - not sure] ... so instead of logically comparing 1Q01 with 1Q00, they used 1Q01 against 4Q00, the previous quarter ... why? - because it gave them the numbers they wanted - 4Q00 had been extremely slow for a number of reasons, principally that the market was off as it usually is in the fourth quarter ... anyway that's how they conjured up the first 19.3% 2. '5 pieces of wood cost Slocan $10m' - #reply-16637872 - check that out, it's on manufactured evidence like that they rammed through the next 12-15% ... which is absurd, ten per cent is enough to do us in 3. they steadfastly refuse to admit anywhere at any time that the strong-USD policy of the US Fed is the only thing keeping us in business right now even before their tariffs ... USD is what, 1.6 loonies or something, that's ridiculous, time to let a little air out of it i'd say ... [and yes i do realise that our federal Limperals have considerable responsibility for the sick loonie as well] There's more, lots more ... we absolutely do not need slime like this leaning on us at such a critical time in our province, new government, changes coming, and all [see my post to Hawk, you're invited too btw if you like] ... it would really help for the US public to gain some awareness of what these people are up to, they're getting shafted in it too, after all Btw, in that post to Hawk i mention our ISPC [incredibly spineless political class] - they lacked even the balls to get our forces in place so that they could go into places like say that Bagram airport side by side with the brits and anzacs ... things like that should be pan-Commonwealth moves, done together or not at all ... and done only when the Great Brain Trust determines a time for it when it would work, too ... meaning substantial in-country support or else enough muscle to manufacture some ..... anyway, cheers