Posted on 10/07/2005 12:15:51 PM PDT by proud_yank
Talk to Bush, Tories tell PM
By ALLISON DUNFIELD
Friday, October 7, 2005 Posted at 2:01 PM EDT
Prime Minister Paul Martin should have taken the opportunity while in New York to call U.S. President George W. Bush directly on the softwood lumber dispute, the Conservatives charged Friday.
They dismissed as merely a "photo-op" his trip to the United States, where he spoke to the Economic Club of New York and warned that the U.S. failure to comply with a NAFTA ruling on softwood duties may jeopardize its access to Canadian energy supplies.
Mr. Martin appeared on CNN's The Situation Room on Thursday and said that, while Canada is willing to work with the United States in a wide range of areas, ”if we have rules, then we've got to live up to those rules.”
Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay said these appearances are not going to solve the issue.
"What's too bad was that it was at a CNN studio and not at the White House. Despite the false bravado, the Prime Minister still hasn't found time to phone President Bush on this important issue and advocate this tough position. ... Instead of spending thousands of dollars flying down to New York for a public-relations tub-thumping exercise, maybe the Prime Minister could let his fingers do the walking and call the President."
Canadian lumber exporters have paid more than $5-billion in duties since they were imposed in May, 2002, after U.S. lumber producers filed their fourth trade complaint in 20 years.
Canadian politicians and those in the industry were enraged in August when the U.S. government signalled that it would not comply with a NAFTA (North American free-trade agreement) ruling that found no injury to U.S. producers from Canadian exports.
This past week, International Trade Minister Jim Peterson said yet another NAFTA panel has ordered U.S. trade officials to review the calculations they used to conclude that Canadian lumber exports are subsidized.
It is the fifth time the panel has told the U.S. Commerce Department to correct its subsidy determination, which Mr. Peterson said has already been reduced to 1.21 per cent from 18.79 per cent.
The NDP have also criticized the Prime Minister recently for failing to call the President directly on the matter.
Finance Minister Ralph Goodale disagreed with Mr. MacKay's interpretation of the visit.
"The fact is, Mr. Speaker, last night in New York City, the Prime Minister of this country gave a forceful defence of Canadian rights and interests in the arena of world trade, and he spoke to the business leaders of America who heard that message loud and clear."
Latest Comments in the Conversation
Todd Fraser from Canada writes:
How is speaking to an entirely disinterested party (i.e. Bush) going to resolve any of this. The US stated that they would not abide by the ruling. They refuse to live up to their committments.
NAFTA does not work. I say pull out.
And if it were up to those same Tories moaning here, we would be tied at the hip to arguably the most hated, xenophobic, obtuse country on the planet.
A good post for that "GOT WOOD?" pic.
Interesting position Canada is in. Maybe the U.S. will obey the NAFTA rulings once Canada imposes export duties on energy to the U.S. Canada is one of the biggest suppliers of electricity, natural gas and oil to the U.S. Slapping an export duty, say 25-50%, would hammer energy prices worse than what Katrina did. Also, the volume is such that the U.S. would not be able to find sufficeint cheaper alternatives and it would really grind in the U.S. Canada may be thinking of using such leverage agains the U.S. It is a rare circumstance where Canada can retaliate strongly against the U.S. in trade disputes.
Thats what I find particularly interesting. On the other hand, if they press too hard, it will be interesting to see what retaliation will be when the ball lands in our court again.
LOL
You are right Brads Gramma.
It is $ time for Free Republic.
Do The Right Thing.
What with MacKay's history of reneging on a signed, dated, written agreement with a fellow conservative, it doesn't surprise me that he's willing to cut other welchers some slack. What value does a man have if his word is worthless?
So it's a good thing that canada is in dispute?I thought our dispute was over canadian subsidized lumber!
And what will happen to canadian economy?,or where is canadian economy tied to?
The problem is that NAFTA has determined that Canadian softwood lumber is not subsidized and the U.S. is not fulfilling its treaty obligations. That means Canada can retaliate. Sine Canada is one of the top producers of energy for the U.S., that's a mighty big switch that can be turned off.
So it's buy our cheap lumber or esle? I didnt see that larger picture.
No, the bigger picture is that Canada has lived up to its obligations on every NAFTA ruling that has gone against it. But on this issue, the USA has not. So if NAFTA is to work, then the USA must also abide by the rulings, otherwise Canada is morally justified to retaliate.
As for threatening to "turn off the tap," that's pompous posturing on the part of Paul Martin in the lead up to a soon-to-be-called election. There is a strong anti-American sentiment among left-leaning Canadians, and he is clearly pandering to that crowd. The Conservative Party is absolutely right--if Martin was serious about resolving this issue, he would be talking to Bush already. Instead, he is using it for whatever political leverage he can get.
Personally, I find that disgusting; he certainly is NOT acting in the best interests of Canada. . .unless his ego is such that he identifies his own best interests as those of Canada.
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