Protectionism: Canada gets kicked

[HOZ]

Obama/Democrat protectionism has taken hold. So much for Obama promises of standign by their obligations. This is another example of the elephant and th mouse. The USA has the weight behind it to do whatever it wants and unless they stick to their promises there is NOTHING we can do.


John Ivison: Canada starts to feel the bite of new U.S. protectionism
When Barack Obama came to Ottawa in February, Canadians lowered their defences and surrendered, seduced by the new President’s promises that the United States would stand by its international trade obligations and resist protectionism.

It was an object lesson in why politicians should be judged on results, not their intentions. The reality is that Canada and the United States are engaging in skirmishes that threaten to erupt into an all-out trade war.

John Hayward runs an industrial equipment company, Hayward Gordon, in Halton Hills, Ontario, but is in the process of transferring some of his company’s manufacturing capacity to the United States from Canada, with the loss of Canadian jobs, because he is being shut out of the American market by President Obama’s stimulus bill.

[MelBridgeman]

but his speeches dude! it inspired me to keep doing what i have always been doing, nothing

[moncton golden flames]

we've got something they need real bad. i just hope our government plays a little hardball and not roll over for them.

[jammies]

He wasn't elected President of Canada - I didn't expect anything other than an increase in economic nationalism in the US once their economy went in the tank. It's the Canadian gov't that has to step up and let the US know that there will be consequences if such bills are put into law without exemptions for Canada - ultimately if it comes down to keeping promises he makes to a foreign country, or promises he's made to domestic supporters, he's going to choose the home team every time.

Too often we play nice with the US - like in the softwood lumber dispute - instead of being upfront and telling them that as their #1 trading partner, they had best be cognizant of our desires or pay some penalties. Not to say let's go overboard and start seizing assets, but if they put a measure like this in place, retaliate in kind and link the revocation of your measures with equivalent concessions on their side.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm fine with protectionism and I think Canada would be well served to practice is more.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm fine with protectionism and I think Canada would be well served to practice is more.

So you admit that you know nothing about economics and would prefer the developing world to remain poor?

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by jammies

He wasn't elected President of Canada - I didn't expect anything other than an increase in economic nationalism in the US once their economy went in the tank. It's the Canadian gov't that has to step up and let the US know that there will be consequences if such bills are put into law without exemptions for Canada - ultimately if it comes down to keeping promises he makes to a foreign country, or promises he's made to domestic supporters, he's going to choose the home team every time.

Too often we play nice with the US - like in the softwood lumber dispute - instead of being upfront and telling them that as their #1 trading partner, they had best be cognizant of our desires or pay some penalties. Not to say let's go overboard and start seizing assets, but if they put a measure like this in place, retaliate in kind and link the revocation of your measures with equivalent concessions on their side.

nm

[Ford Prefect]

So Obama lied. He's a politician for zarks sake, what else is he gonna do?

[JohnnyFlame]

We should use this as an opportunity. I've never understood why we don't try and squeeze the USA more. China is a market screaming for resources and out hunting for them all over the world as an example. I betcha they wouldn't be adverse to buying our "dirty" oil for instance.

Sure the US is the closest, biggest market but it's high time Canada became less dependent on them. Canada has good relationships with the likes of China and India. These markets are going to be so stinkin huge in the future. Canada should be making as many inroads in these markets as possible.

[tjinaz]

We should use this as an opportunity. I've never understood why we don't try and squeeze the USA more. China is a market screaming for resources and out hunting for them all over the world as an example. I betcha they wouldn't be adverse to buying our "dirty" oil for instance.

Sure the US is the closest, biggest market but it's high time Canada became less dependent on them. Canada has good relationships with the likes of China and India. These markets are going to be so stinkin huge in the future. Canada should be making as many inroads in these markets as possible. 05-01-2009 02:05 PM

Yea.... lets get into a trade war and further remove ourselves from the biggest market in the world. The stuff we sell they can't get anywhere else anyway. That will show them. And besides we haven't been really trying to expand our markets, once we do that we won't need them anyhow. Besides China is a much more honest and reliable partner.




OK then..... Talk about getting into a war you can't win. The only other option Canada really has it to try to get into the EU and open up more trade with them. Also who is to say they don't get vindictive and tell the Chinese make deals with us and not Canada or we "modify" your trading status as well? Talk about the 600lb Gorilla....

[peter12]

Canada has been making roads into China and the EU, but for crying out loud, the USA is a market of 320 million literally right across the border. It makes all kinds of sense for us not to get into a protectionist pissing match that we have no hope of winning.