Ottawa warns U.S. of risk to NAFTA

[CHIMO]

Ottawa — The Liberal government has again raised the stakes in its lumber war with the United States, unveiling plans to boost lumber exports to more than 30 other countries while saying implicitly for the first time that the dispute puts the North American free-trade agreement at risk.

In a cordial but strongly worded exchange with U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins yesterday afternoon, International Trade Minister Jim Peterson insisted that the United States must adhere to a NAFTA panel ruling in Canada's favour made last month or face the possibility of retaliatory tariffs.

"We firmly believe that the U.S. must not allow a special interest group to put the NAFTA, which is so critical in areas like energy security and goods and services, at risk," Mr. Peterson said in prepared remarks. "Softwood lumber put the NAFTA to the test."

Later, however, asked again whether Canada is implicitly threatening the United States with the prospect of curbs on its access to some Canadian raw materials -- including energy -- Mr. Peterson neither affirmed nor denied it.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050928.wxwilkins28/BNStory/National/

[Beaver Tail]

1. The question is

Will Martin and his liberals have the balls to follow through or are they just blowing smoke (regardless if it is right ot wrong)?

Being a Canadian I will admit that Canadian Government has rightfully earned a reputation in Washington as being weak and spineless.

Edited for typo

[htuttle]

2. Signing a treaty with the US is extremely foolish nowdays

We simply won't uphold any parts of the agreements we find unprofitable, yet expect the other side to hold up theirs.

It's as stupid as signing a business contract with the Mafia and expecting to get an advantage from it.

[Johnyawl]

3. What's really STUPID about this whole issue right now...

...is that the US NEEDS that Canadian softwood desperately. I own a construction business in the NW, and our material prices have already been affected by the hurricanes in the SE. By this time next year, with the rebuilding in LA, MS & TX in full swing, structural material, i.e., 2x4s, 2x6s, plywood and OSB will be so expensive a simple remodel will be out of the price range of the middle class.

Weyerhouser, LP, and some of the other big softwood producers are being allowed to make exhorbant profits while we hold the Canadians out of our market.

I hope the Canadian government has the balls to follow through on this.

[bemildred]

4. That sounds like an explicit threat to me.

I can't say the end of NAFTA would bother me much.
It might be the end of Ross Perot's "giant sucking sound"
too. Did he have that one right or what?

[Spazito]

5. Good! It is a first step but until Canada serves notice to withdraw

any 'cordial but strongly worded exchange' with the bush admin will do nothing. Actions speak louder than words and it is time for Canada to act, enough talk already, imo.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. "Ottawa warns U.S." - bout TIME sumone "warned" the US about sumthing

.
.
.

Getting tired of all the Warnings coming out of the US admin to all the other countries in the World . .

US warns this . .

US warns that . . .

'nuff already

sign back into the International Criminal Court and take ur lumps

and stop all the immunity shit to have US thugs in other countries . .

that's my Canuk take on it all anyhoo

[sarcasmo]

7. NAFTA has cost us so many jobs here in Michigan.