U.S. Record Of Agreements Ignored Is Growing

First, Canadians need both a predictable and reasonably fair framework within which to conduct business with the U.S. and an international system that encourages co-operation over conflict. That means persuading Washington to play by the rules of bilateral agreements and of the international system, rather than just of U.S. domestic trade law. If the Americans take the view that international treaties must yield to the U.S. constitution, and that others' practices are acceptable only to the extent they mirror American practices, there is nothing for others to negotiate except the terms of surrender. Second, Canada needs to respond because appeasement, to use a word popular in American discourse these days, does not work. Our response needs to be both strategic and tactical. Strategically, we have to persuade Americans that in the coming world order they are going to need both us and a fair and effective international system. They will need us for resources, especially energy resources, in global markets that will only become increasingly tight, for lucrative goods and services opportunities, for technology, and for security against terrorists. Further, they will benefit from an independent, effective Canadian foreign policy, both because of what its existence says about the U.S. to others and because Canada can make an indispensable contribution to American security. More broadly, the Americans need a fair and effective international system because in China, India, Brazil and Russia lower-cost producers are emerging who will have market power and plenty of it. Exactly the same arguments apply to security, where U.S. foreign policy flouts international law and seems self-destructive in the longer term. It is in our interest to speak these truths to power. The question is how to get Washington to the table to start that conversation? First, we should use the leverage we do have to get their attention. Self-interest and self-respect both demand that we react in some measured fashion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- `If the Americans expect our tar sands to be developed for their needs, a minimum quid pro quo is that they honour the agreements they make with us' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1125310567341&call_pageid=968256290204 [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 31, 2005]

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