U.S. poised for trade war

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA and TORONTO - Washington says it has no plans to obey a NAFTA ruling that compels the United States to refund an estimated $5-billion in illegally collected duties to Canadian lumber producers -- setting up a potential trade war that experts say could threaten the future of the North American trading bloc.

Christine Mingie, a Vancouver lawyer and expert in commercial law, said Washington's refusal to abide by the judgment has widespread repercussions.

"That would have huge implications, not just on softwood lumber but on any other trade disputes Canada may have," she said.

"In terms of the United States complying with any other international agreement, this raises big question marks as well. If they are not going to comply with this, then it is a huge issue in dealing with the Americans."

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=bf63bb07-df95-4f39-8118-514e41b91fdf

[Barrett808]

1. Why would anybody trust the word of the US after the last 5 years? n/t

[Robeson]

8. You took the words right out of my mouth.

[ixion]

2. to all those suckers, er countries that signed on to CAFTA

This is what's in store for you.

[VegasWolf]

3. Yes, who in their right mind would trust our government? nt

[Maple]

4. So trade elsewhere

There are 190 other countries in the world

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Democratic nations are not motivated by monetary issues, they

don't engage in a "war" trade or otherwise without good reason, mebbe I have that wrong... dunno.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. *ahem* - and exactly WHO still thinks the USSA is a democracy??

.
.
.

not THIS Canuk

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. The U.S. has devolved into a corporate run, dollar driven

beast. It lurks about seeing whom it may devour in order to save its own lifestyle. Pretty sh*tty imho.

[natrat]

19. the worst part

is that, like the conservative movement, the us seems to be inflexible in a very fast changing world. If it just put some resources into adapting, rater than say killing and bombing......

[VegasWolf]

11. Did you say Democratic or Demonic Nations? nt

[VegasWolf]

6. Way to GO Bush!!!! Wreak MORE havoc on our economy! C'mon I

know that you have it in you!!

[achtung_circus]

7. Softwood lumber is just one "irritant, viz

<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050810/RWHEAT10/TPBusiness/Canadian>

snip

The U.S. Department of Commerce cut duties on Canadian hard red spring wheat imports to 2.54 per cent from 5.29 per cent after an independent trade panel ruled against its method of calculation.

snip

Yesterday's "reduction isn't going to allow more sales of hard red spring wheat into the U.S.," Maureen Fitzhenry, a spokeswoman for the wheat board, said in a telephone interview. "It is still a prohibitive tariff."

snip

This is the 10th challenge to Canadian wheat imports by U.S. farmers since free trade with Canada began in 1989, according to the CWB (Canadian Wheat Board).

snip

EVERY American challenge has eventually been thrown out, yet the wording is changed slightly and the challenges continue.

[Minstrel Boy]

10. Abiding by rulings is for suckers!

That's what the other fellers do!

Why should any self-respecting nation tie itself to a trade agreement with such a partner?

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. USSA has broken every agreement made since they met the first Native

.
.
.

Why stop now??

(sigh)

[Voltaire99]

12. Plutocrats Gone Wild!

When the response to legally binding rulings is for Dick Cheney to hoist his shirt up and flaunt his flappy man-boobs, we might as well let drunken frat boys run our government.

Pretty brazen for a crew running trade and budget deficits, watching the currency decline, depending on foreign debt servicing for its economic recovery, and trudging knee deep in a war it can't win or afford.

[lonestarnot]

13. Is there any kind of war we are not poised for these days?

[Rainscents]

14. Is US going to blame trade war on Iraq???

:sarcasm:

[CHIMO]

15. U.S. 'slap' infuriates Canada

Ottawa and Banff, Alta. — Canadian anger boiled over yesterday at the U.S. government's refusal to comply with a landmark NAFTA ruling that should have spelled an end to punitive softwood duties on lumber from Canada.

Federal and provincial officials accused the United States of reneging on the 11-year-old North American free-trade agreement, with Ottawa renewing threats to slap billions of dollars of sanctions on American goods if Washington doesn't recant.

Another top-ranked federal official said Ottawa is prepared to retaliate if the United States repudiates NAFTA. "Those rules cannot be flouted and they cannot be ignored," the official said. "If ..... can't see fit to recognize the rule of law, to honour the agreement that it, itself, established, and to work toward a deal that is fair to all, they should not expect this federal government to take that sitting down."

A group of Liberal cabinet ministers, including International Trade Minister Jim Peterson, released a statement that questioned the U.S. government's support for the North American free-trade agreement. "This raises serious and fundamental questions about the United States's commitment to the NAFTA," the ministers said of U.S. intransigence on softwood duties.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050812.wxpremiers0812/BNStory/National/

One would almost think that the * administration wants to cancel NAFTA and make separate deals. Kinda silly after having just blown their wad on CAFTA?

[Demeter]

17. It's A Good Thing We're Such Good Friends With Canada

Imagine if we treated our enemies the way we treat our sister nation to the north. World War III!