Another result is that international trading relationships are disrupted, often in ways that affect broader relationships as well. People in this country don't pay enough attention, but there is no relationship in the world more important than the one with Canada. Right now it is a needless mess.
On numerous occasions, the United States has failed to make a definitive case before international bodies that its protectionist lumber policies conform to the complex array of treaties that bind countries together. Most important, it has consistently failed to make a case to the dispute resolution mechanisms created under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Under the latest rejection of the US position by a NAFTA panel -- one that included a majority of American members -- the Bush administration was given a deadline of next week to begin complying. However, Bush may seek the delay and appeal routes.
This dispute is a huge deal in Canada. To understand why, consider a trade mission that Canada's natural resources minister, John McCallum, undertook to China this week. According to reports from Beijing, his enthusiasm for pitching the country's oil and gas resources to China has increased in direct proportion to the seriousness of the lumber dispute with the United States.
McCallum's comments suggest that Canada, thinking big and long-term, is less interested in tit-for-tat retaliation games with this country and more interested in thinking anew about its larger interests. They could and no doubt should include NAFTA, but if silly American unilateralism is going to undermine it, then Canada has other options in the world.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/10/20/how_bush_muddied_relations_with_canada/
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on October 25, 2005]
Note: http://www.boston.com/n...
How Bush Muddied Relations With Canada
Posted on Friday, October 21 at 15:09 by jensonjContributed By
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We helped keep the lights on in California a couple years back, yet BC Hydro has yet to be fully compensated.
The only way to deal with a "bully" is to find other sources for our products.
Tit for tat retaliation does not really do anything but create more headaches, finding other countries to purchase our goods is the direction we should be headed. We should not basically rely on one country for trade as is basically, the case now. We need to branch out. We can still trade with America if they chose to play by the rules if not we at the very least have other countries (China, India, Japan rest of asia) to sell our oil, lumber, wheat etc to.
I agree.
Canada has only put their eggs in one basket with the NAFTA deal. We can't retaliate but I'm sure Canada can find OTHER trade partners. That in itself would indicate to Americans that the price is not negotiable.
I don't think that they need a reason to attack Canada or a need to justify their wants, desires and interference. They already interfere in Canadian Politics, domestic and foreign. Just look at the gay rights issue and the money they threw at that up here to push their agenda and what they believe.
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Perception is two thirds of what we perceive reality to be.
Difficult decisions are a privilege of rank.
That's kinda like the American mentality we loath. The neighbours got guns so we need them and we have guns so the neighbour needs them. Our nuclear weapons are bigger then yours. How about an Iron curtain. A "new" historical event to solve problems between neighbours.
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"If you must kill a man, it costs you nothing to be polite about it." Winston Churchill
We won't have those choices simply by being nice guys. We have the technology to weaponize and the US has proven beyond a doubt that they are not morally above anybody, especially us.
US foreign policy of late demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt: no nukes = no choice.
It wouldn't even have to be very good because the Americans would build a big and better one. The civilian group protecting their borders now, would be contracted to walk the top.
about 5 minutes but I guarantee, they would have
their own Palestine in their own back yard for the
next hundred years/
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Every time you complain about the moderators, god kills a kitten.