Posted on 10/18/2005 3:12:52 AM PDT by HAL9000
LONDON, ONT. -- The Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute is just the tip of the iceberg, and both countries are likely to engage in more acrimonious trade wars in coming years, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said yesterday.Still, Clinton said he sympathizes with Canada's position in the long-standing lumber feud, and expressed support for Prime Minister Paul Martin's recent strong-arm efforts with the U.S.
"In view of the American position, I don't see how your prime minister can be anything but really publicly very tough on this. I don't think he's got an option," Clinton said following a speech on Canada-U.S. relations. "You've lost some jobs out of this, and a fair amount of money, a few billion dollars."
Martin, in a blunt phone conversation last week with U.S. President George W. Bush, vowed to continue the softwood battle in American courts.
"You won in the WTO forum and you won in the NAFTA forum, so in that sense I'm sympathetic," Clinton said. But he ultimately sided with the U.S., saying both countries should abide by the original ruling in the U.S.' favour. The U.S. has collected more than $5 billion in softwood tariffs.
Clinton is a Great unitor. He draws together all the people who like to play both sides of the fence and call it "consensus"
Many people in other countries do not fully understand that ex-presidents are not in charge of anything.
In many countries people are born into power and never lose it and there is little understanding of how government power (not just media power) is generated in the USA.
Clinton and Carter use these "cultural" differences to the max in their meddling and fund raising.
That said Canadian Liberals know better and they are very adept at manipulating the media and at "fund raising" and probably can and do teach Mr. Clinton some new tricks.
From what I have seen Canadian Liberals (and the NDP and Bloc) and American Democrats are trying to kill the free trade agreement and weaken the ties that bind.
For millions of people these are family ties that extend generations.
May they all descend into electoral never never land soon. ptuy.
The eco freaks have just as much power in Canada as in the US, but the difference is that the lumber industry is more entrenched in Canada. In the rural areas the people are on the side of timber. Canadians like to talk and accuse others but don't like to look at the skeletons in our own closet.
Yes yes..in the rural areas. And you know fully well who holds power and it isnt the rural areas.
You know whats really killing us? By us I mean both the USA and Canada? Lumber imports from overseas. Bailed pulp from Brazil and other countries. THAT is what is killing us!
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