Posted on 03/23/2002 5:25:38 AM PST by Jethro Tull
Edited on 05/26/2004 5:05:16 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
March 23, 2002 -- It's steel versus oranges in a battle that's supposed to be about economics, but that economists say is nothing but politics. The European Union said it will introduce new import tariffs totaling $2.1 billion on things like orange juice, textiles and motorcycles.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
JT, March 23, 2002
Nope, he's a simple Texas Bush....
Did you know the Candian government is letting their timber industry cut down trees on state lands for free? That is a very short sighted move. It cannot be sustained at this rate forever and amounts to 'dumping'.
In other words, the problem in this specific case is not a lack of competitiveness on the part of the U.S. timber industry, instead the problem is they are fighting what amounts to a state subsidy from the Canadians.
That situation is one of the few times special tariffs are justified. W made a good call on this one.
Other than that, he's OK....
He should have removed the environmental and "endangered species" regulations that have been placed against logging in this country if he wanted to make our lumber competitive.
Tarrifs won't help anything as far as lumber is concerned until the US companies are allowed to produce it.
We agree.
Dubya done good...
This has been one of the many arguments which has been totally ignored by the Free Traders.
How can American companies 'compete' with nations who are free of the multiple layers of federal laws, taxes and guidelines?
Their, "The America worker can compete with anyone" mantra was always a flawed argument given the EPA, Endangered Species Act, FICA, Minimum Wage, local, state and federal taxes, American w/ Disabilities Act, etc, ad nauseum...
What? "The buck stops somewhere else." -- George Bush?
Why? They are fighting by our side in Afghanistan. That's a lot more than anyone else except the English and Aussies are doing.
Thanks, Canada!
-ccm
Nobody who actually reads their party platform could take them seriously.
The forested land often belongs to the 'crown' but the forestry company pays steep license fees to the 'crown' ie. government. It amounts to the same cost of doing business as if a person owned the land and a company leases it. In Canada the provincial government collects the 'lease' money as income to its treasury. In other words, the people, collectively own the land. However, when the timber is sold to American home builders for a lower price than an American company would sell it, there are many factors for the price discrepancy. It is not that it is cut from FREE land.
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