Bloq Quebecois will back Softwood Lumber Agreement

4 Responses to Bloq Quebecois will back Softwood Lumber Agreement

1. dh says:

   September 7, 2006 at 12:57 pm

   “Under the agreement, the United States agrees to return $4.3 billion, or about 80 percent of the duties collected during the dispute, in exchange for managed trade.”

   or you can look at it that Canada gets to get back its $3.85 billion. To put extra tarrifs on a nation that technically are the greatest allies between the two seems strange. At least the tarrifs between the two nations can be eliminated. I guess the liberal continue to want the economy to be worse for Canada than it already is. Tarrifs cause unemployment.
2. Bene Diction says:

   September 8, 2006 at 3:47 am

   Duties collected. Right. And a supposed escrow fund with no oversight for future trade disputes. Canada still pays between 5 to 15 percent on import tax.

   Even though Canada won the majority of appeals before every trade court imaginable the US lumber industry gets what it wants.
   27% worth of duty. Did your home owners see any of that? Any Katrina victims benefit?

   Canada pays producters stumpage fees on crown land. US lumber producers felt that was unfair.
   Well, now you have things the way your producers want them, you can take comfort in the fact that the US lumber lobby added 1 thousand dollars to every new home in the US.

   Softwood lumber people read this blog. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to notice you are impressed Canada gets back 3.85 billion. Don’t forget to mention Canada also pays your lumber lawyer fees.
3. Sherm says:

   September 8, 2006 at 4:44 am

   Canada will have caved in should this lumber deal go through. Harper is hoping for a majority government, but with the way things are going, it’s dubious. A recent poll suggested heappears to the average Canadian that he seems to be a little too cozy with Bush and that has hurt him. We are a sovereign nation, subject to our own laws and culture. Our softwood lumber industry will be dead in 10 years, we cannot compete in a global economy. It takes 100 years to grow a treein Canada, countries around the equator can grow a tree in 6. The writing is on the wall, we need to look for a new source of income for our economy. Use the “settlement” to retrain workers. That is, if there is a “settlement”. The US is trillions of dollars in debt. Harper will take this country in the same direction if he continues to extend the Afghanistan mission and cozy up to Bush.
4. Bene Diction says:

   September 8, 2006 at 9:18 am

   I don’t blame Harper, this one has been going on like sibling rivalry since the early 80′s. Emerson…well…

   Canada caved. I hope softwood lumber industry has good R&D, because what is left of the industry is going to have to develop new products and a better market. Canadian lumber producers have a bit of breathing room to recoup loses.

   It’s odd, with the thousands of things we trade that the two countries don’t fight over, the ink isn’t dry on this and the US is demanding user fees on Canadian commercial vessels, trucks, railway cars and aircraft and on international air passengers to pay for those inspections as of November 24th. Every issue raised by the US Dept of Agriculture is covered under NAFTA.
   Canada

   DH: The US put the 27 percent tariff on. Canada is held to 34 percent of your market share. At least your lumber lobby or your government is restricted from any more legal action for 7 years.

   You work in fiances. Watch the GAO and let me know when the supposed ‘escrow’ account kicks and and whether there is any accountability. I can assure you on this side of the border well over 15 thousand plus that lost their jobs aren’t holding their breath. And I’d watch and see if that thouand per new home is lifted, I bet US consumers aren’t holding their breath either.