Posted on 03/21/2005 3:09:20 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
President Bush will try to ease tensions over trade and immigration at a summit Wednesday with the leaders of Canada and Mexico that is expected to focus on strengthening security and economic ties.
The meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Mexican President Vicente Fox is expected to produce a plan for improving North American economic competitiveness in a global environment seeing the rise of China and India and the expansion of the European Union, analysts said.
The United States is pressing for stronger security measures, Mexico is seeking a promise on immigration issues and Canada is hoping for movement to ease U.S. trade restrictions, analysts said.
Canada hopes the talks will produce agreement on the need to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement to better handle issues such as its trade dispute with the United States over duties on Canada's multibillion-dollar lumber exports. Washington says the duties are needed to offset artificially low prices set by Canadian lumber exporters. Canada denies there is any dumping.
Another sore spot was Canada's decision earlier this year not to participate in the U.S. missile defense system, which was seen as a snub to Bush who had called for joint action.
"They are going to lay out a plan of action that leads Canada, Mexico and the United States toward deeper integration," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, director of the Mexico Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"This North American initiative is the beginning of redefining the relationship between our three countries," he said. The leaders will probably announce an agreement to take steps to broaden their relationship beyond the limited focus of NAFTA, analysts said. "
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
"This North American initiative is the beginning of redefining the relationship between our three countries," he said.
He will be accompanied by Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Leslie Nielson, and Steve Martin. =P
If America wants Canada to smarten up on relations, alliances, etc. nothing would help out more than living up to the letter and the spirit of NAFTA. That means laying off on illegal lumber restrictions and giving Canada the benefit of the doubt on cattle restrictions. Americans will be amazed how Canada's tune will change in regards to missle defence if America allows the lumber and cattle back in.
After all its not our fault that the lumber is more abumdant and of better quality than US softwood lumber. Its just what God gave us.
On another note, America should learn to reward its allies blatantly. For every little republic that joined the coalition of the willing it should send over some blue chip development. Morals and platitudes are one thing, but international relations are all about business.
After all its not our fault that the lumber is more abumdant and of better quality than US softwood lumber. Its just what God gave us.
And heavily gov't subsidized!
No thanks, we don't need your brain-diseased cattle!
It's high time that Mexico, Canada and the US really started working together. Yikes, Europe is moving in that direction.
Actually, Americans will continue to not give a crap what tune Canada hums about anything.
But what do we get? The Canadians might let us defend them and the Mexicans will call us "Amigos"?
I think we should just start deporting the Mexicans we catch over the Canadian border and let The Great White Waste of Time and Mexico fight it out.
I read something today about the US deepening military ties with the Netherlands. That seems like exactly what you are talking about...
We could allow Canada to ship its diseased beef through the US into Mexico. Would that make them happy?
As far as lumber, you haven't given up the subsidies. Deal with it, and smarten up.
Dithers should be freeped.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1367192/posts
They'll ship them to Mexico on the international toll highway, the trans texas corridor.
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