When will Canada reach the point that it will build the necessary infrastructure to transport the oil to its West coast to be shipped to China and the rest of Asia? Would this really be the outcome that Obama prefers?
Nope...not really possible
NAFTA requires Canada to sell 2/3 of all its oil/gas to the US....so they just cannot willy-nilly ship its oil to Communist China or other countries or they will be in violation of NAFTA
Surprised that this “sell to Communist China” canard line in regard to Keystone is always used by some of the more liberal Free Traders...did they not read NAFTA?
The only way Canada can force the US hand is by going to NAFTA Court and get a ruling. NAFTA Court usually rules against environmentalists vs Free Traders...so Canada has a good chance. Probably Harper and the Canucks do not want Eco-extremists rioting over a NAFTA ruling that is pro-Keystone...
Wow, let me put it this way, you are absolutely wrong. In fact, you couldn't be more wrong.
NAFTA requires no government intervention in the normal function of the energy market. It also requires all consumers of energy in North America to be treated equally. Nowhere does it set or require quotas. See reference here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0633-e.htm
Furthermore, in this particular case, the US obviously does not want Canadian oil. When the Northern Gateway is completed, feel free to buy as much as you want. I'm sure the producers will be glad to sell to anybody that can get a tanker up to Kitimat.
Canada is not really interested in "force(ing) the US hand". Canada just wants to sell the oil. You see, there are 3 trillion barrels of the stuff up there. Besides, how difficult do you think it would be to abrogate NAFTA? It's a trade treaty. A piece of paper. The US and Canada have signed and abrogated trade treaties in the past and we are still friends.