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Thunderball · 08-23-2005, 11:43 PM

Funny we only grow a backbone when its the States... when Denmark wants our island, we quietly talk and urge negotiation...

Seriously though, this isn't anything any of us should be excited about.

A trade war is gonna cost both sides a lot of money. And lets not forget, its easier for the US to replace 20% of its trade than for Canada to replace 70% of ours. Most of our exports are commodities that are expensive to move off-continent. Escalating this conflict is a dumb move, the solution is trade missions to other countries; ween ourselves off of the US dependency and using the WTO and NAFTA to our maximum benefit. In other words, not cutting off our nose to spite our face. Canada is already splintered enough without targetting exports to damage the US which may damage Canadian provinces. Notice the first place they looked was Alberta industry. Now, the US counter of this would be to tariff something crucial to Canada, and we'd go back and forth until one cries uncle... odds are that would be Canada. The US is too big and powerful with better trade agreements with the rest of the world. Now all we did is make ourselves more reliant and have our spirits crushed by seeing that no aggressive acts can help us. Not to mention risk national cohesiveness further if a province or provinces were hung out to dry on this one.

This is probably another vote buying scheme aimed at converting Anti-Americanism into votes. The government is not acting in the best interests of all Canadians on this one.

Lastly, and honestly... we do subsidize many of our industries, including softwood lumber, and frankly, the non-government interference portions of NAFTA should give the US right to tariff it. How the NAFTA and the WTO panel sided with Canada, I don't know, I think it was luck, or a poorly presented US case. We shouldn't doi something equally illegal and risk losing the support of these too.

08-23-2005, 11:43 PM	#5
Thunderball Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	Funny we only grow a backbone when its the States... when Denmark wants our island, we quietly talk and urge negotiation... Seriously though, this isn't anything any of us should be excited about. A trade war is gonna cost both sides a lot of money. And lets not forget, its easier for the US to replace 20% of its trade than for Canada to replace 70% of ours. Most of our exports are commodities that are expensive to move off-continent. Escalating this conflict is a dumb move, the solution is trade missions to other countries; ween ourselves off of the US dependency and using the WTO and NAFTA to our maximum benefit. In other words, not cutting off our nose to spite our face. Canada is already splintered enough without targetting exports to damage the US which may damage Canadian provinces. Notice the first place they looked was Alberta industry. Now, the US counter of this would be to tariff something crucial to Canada, and we'd go back and forth until one cries uncle... odds are that would be Canada. The US is too big and powerful with better trade agreements with the rest of the world. Now all we did is make ourselves more reliant and have our spirits crushed by seeing that no aggressive acts can help us. Not to mention risk national cohesiveness further if a province or provinces were hung out to dry on this one. This is probably another vote buying scheme aimed at converting Anti-Americanism into votes. The government is not acting in the best interests of all Canadians on this one. Lastly, and honestly... we do subsidize many of our industries, including softwood lumber, and frankly, the non-government interference portions of NAFTA should give the US right to tariff it. How the NAFTA and the WTO panel sided with Canada, I don't know, I think it was luck, or a poorly presented US case. We shouldn't doi something equally illegal and risk losing the support of these too.