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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: CYBERKEN who wrote (700401)	9/7/2005 9:37:03 PM
From: E. T.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

We treat 'em like sh*t, but they're still nice. "Softwood on backburner, not forgotten, Wilkins says The softwood lumber dispute took a back seat Wednesday as new U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins effusively thanked Canada for its quick response to the disaster that swept the U.S. Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. "The aid pouring from all across Canada has been truly overwhelming," he told the Vancouver Board of Trade. Mr. Wilkins noted the city's urban search and rescue team had just returned from the devastated suburbs of New Orleans and that he was thrilled to join Prime Minister Paul Martin in Halifax on Tuesday to send off a flotilla of Canadian ships headed for the disaster zone. "Many countries are offering help, nobody more so than Canada," he said. "You're at the top of the list and for that we will always be very grateful. "In times like this, you learn who your friends are and Canada is a dear friend. There's no more important relationship in the world to us than the relationship we enjoy with you." With a humble demeanour and an engaging southern drawl, the veteran South Carolina legislator said he doesn't believe issues such as the Iraq war, missile defence and softwood lumber have escalated anti-Americanism in Canada. "I've experienced nothing but compassion and warmth and understanding from your citizens to a friend in need," said Mr. Wilkins, noting he's visited eight provinces and a territory since taking his post in Ottawa at the end of June. "My nine weeks here tell me that the relationship is much stronger than people want us to believe, that there's a disconnect between what you read and hear in the media and what people tell me on the street." Mr. Wilkins earlier told open-line radio host Bill Good he's fielded offers of aid from Mr. Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, several premiers and top business leaders to help deal with the displacement of 1.4 million Gulf Coast residents. The crisis has put the softwood lumber issue on the backburner, Mr. Wilkins said, but it won't be forgotten. He said he spoke to Mr. Martin about it in Halifax on Tuesday. Mr. Wilkins suggested there's no political advantage to be gained on softwood from Canada's response to Katrina, but, "suffice it to say we appreciate, acknowledge, understand, know what Canada's doing for us. It's not lost on us." Mr. Martin was supposed to discuss softwood with U.S. President George Bush by telephone last week but Katrina pushed the topic off the agenda for the call, which focused entirely on aid to the stricken Gulf Coast. Officials say the softwood conversation between the two leaders, and a meeting between Mr. Wilkins and Trade Minister Jim Peterson on the issue have been postponed until the crisis is over. Mr. Wilkins said the two countries must return to the issue inevitably but he reiterated comments that the only way to resolve the softwood dispute is through negotiation. "We understand and we appreciate Canada's position on softwood lumber," he told the board of trade luncheon. "Canada has legitimate arguments. So too does the United States." The years of trade litigation resulting in tit-for-tat rulings by NAFTA and World Trade Organization panels is leading nowhere, he said. Canada cancelled the last round of negotiations set for Ottawa last month after the U.S. government signalled it would ignore a NAFTA ruling that the Canadians say should have led to the lifting of the duties and the return of $5-billion collected so far. The United States claimed victory last week in a WTO decision. "So now what?" Wilkins said. "Who wins? In my opinion, no one." Wilkins seemed well-prepared for his B.C. visit, noting Canada has a $139-billion trade surplus with the United States and that lumber exports, which he said have boomed despite the duties, account for only 2.4 per cent of the total trade envelope. It's not worth risking the most successful trading relationship in the world, he said. "We both have a lot to lose if we fail to negotiate," Wilkins said. Lumber dominated Wilkins' one-hour meeting with the Business Council of British Columbia. "There was really nothing new from the ambassador," said council president Jerry Lampert. "It was very respectful but frank." Canadian business and political leaders see softwood as a litmus test of the entire NAFTA treaty. Business support for NAFTA is undermined when the U.S. is perceived as not abiding by its rules, said Mr. Lampert. "I think he clearly sees that and that was one of the very clear messages he got from several people at our meeting this morning," said Mr. Lampert, who called Wilkins "more approachable" than predecessor Paul Cellucci. Mr. Wilkins is scheduled to meet with B.C. lumber executives on Thursday." theglobeandmail.com