Shocking News!! The canadian government may finnally have a spine

[greenvalley]

"B.C. backs trade war with U.S."

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2edb7dfb-7deb-4b42-b8ec-647c047320a7

The europeans had to do it, now they have finnally figured it out in Ottawa.

Its about bloody time!!!!

 

[LonelyGhost]

unfotunately all this will do is create some inflation for us as food prices at the grocery will go up and so will prices at restaraunts ...

there are better ways to hit the americans through trade but this is the worst.

 

[butthead]

unfotunately all this will do is create some inflation for us as food prices at the grocery will go up and so will prices at restaraunts ...

there are better ways to hit the americans through trade but this is the worst.

What are those ways?? It is about time our government retaliates and I think it will not hurt us at all. We will finally tell the americans to stop bullying us.

 

[donnyknotts]

Anytime we butt heads with the Americans it is gonna cost us. But Hey! How long are we gonna keep getting screwed up the ass without at least getting a kiss for our trouble? Good on our government for finally saying what we've all been thinking during the last 5 years of "Free" trade. Now do they have the guts to follow through, especially once the whining (from Canadians having to pay a few more bucks for whatever) starts in earnest?

We'll see.

 

[luckydog71]

I never understood the logic of doing this, even when the US govt imposed tariffs on BC wood. The price received by the seller is still the same, just the extra money charged to the consumer goes into the govt coffers.

So please do not complain when the CDN govt relents and starts reducing the tariff and the producers say alright now I can raise my price by the same amount.

If you don't get lettuce from California in the winter, where do you think it will come from?

If you really wanted to retaliate why not add a surcharge onto the electricity or other products (likely softwood lumber).

Every time our two federal govts fight the loser is the consumer on both sides of the border.

 

[Maury Beniowski]

I don't mean to be cheeky here, but lettuce is not only grown in the US

If you don't get lettuce from California in the winter, where do you think it will come from?

Mexico, Chile, and lo and behold, Canadian greenhouses, along with tomatoes, cukes, yada yada...

 

[rickoshadows]

I never understood the logic of doing this, even when the US govt imposed tariffs on BC wood. The price received by the seller is still the same, just the extra money charged to the consumer goes into the govt coffers.

So please do not complain when the CDN govt relents and starts reducing the tariff and the producers say alright now I can raise my price by the same amount.

If you don't get lettuce from California in the winter, where do you think it will come from?

If you really wanted to retaliate why not add a surcharge onto the electricity or other products (likely softwood lumber).

Every time our two federal govts fight the loser is the consumer on both sides of the border.

Actually, the Tariffs were deposited by the Lumber companies and held in trust pending the outcome of the GATT and NAFTA rulings. (that'll larn us for trusting Americans x 1).

I know the Americans have always had an issue with the GATT, however they agreed to abide by the decisions of the Joint panel set up by NAFTA (that'll larn us for trusting Americans x 2).

A reduction in trade with the US would be to our benefit in the long run, forcing us to tailor our commodoties to other markets and reduce our dependence on the American Market.

As for produce from California and Florida, our producers could use a break from competing with the heaviest subsidized agriculture in the world.

rickoshadows

 

[My Name is Mud]

Finally!!!!

I am in full agreement with this Cdn action. We can get our food products from elsewhere. This softwood lumber dispute has been going on for way too long. We have won every single legal decision and yet the American's still persist and are threatening to take all the duties collected and distribute it amongst American producers. I say a pox on their house.

Speaking of getting the American's attention. How about a little dance with China regarding the Oil Sands. I read an article that they were sniffing around Husky Oil and were contemplating building a pipeling from Ft McMurray to Prince Rupert. Maybe that will lern them a bit, since they are always lerning us.


Dont forget that if you include gas and oil, Canada is the U.S. largest supplier of safe and reliable energy. You want to really get American's pissed, take away their gas guzzling toys.

 

[godzilla]

I ate some food at an American mall and was surprised that the prices were noticeably more expensive than Canadian prices.

You almost get the feeling that the American farmer is dumping cheaper farm produce onto the world and hiking up prices for their own local American market. The same way American drug makers sell cheaper on the world market but more expensively on their own American local market.

 

[dittman]

so am i then maybe the american govt will get some balls and start hammering all the countries that protect there goods then we will have one hell of a trade war where no one benefirs. would you all like chesse with that whine of yours. poor babies everybody bullies you. christ get a life.

 

[JFK]

It is time that goverment do something. It was a calculated risk from American side that Canadian goverment will not have the balls to do something about this and will just keep taking it.

The event in Europe and Japan has shown that every time a goverment will respond to American bullying with equal force, they will put their tail between their legs and run away. American tried the same bullshit with Europe and Japan and backed off as soon as they announced custom duties on American products. They didn't even need to go to courts.

 

[RoadKill]

This sure is good news for the forest sector. I hope the tarrifs make there way back to the companies that were affected. Although the US would then say those companies are now being subsidised and off we go again.

As for electicity. California is still refusing to pay up after BC bailed them out of a major power problem a few years ago. California is taking us to court over pricing after the US's own regulatory body says the price of power was OK

Typical US logic and diplomacy.

Who needs US beer and wine any way.

 

[dittman]

actually the hardest markets to break into are the europeans and the japanese they have all kinds of little rules and regulations to stop imports. However you did take notice that when the bush administration notified the europeans that we were going to take them to court over airbus their response was lets sit down and talk about this. Every country does it to protect there major industries so get over it youre not going to change anything. maybe a few bucks here and there but thats about it.

 

[greenvalley]

This is too funny. Get over what?

We have nothing to lose by going after what we are owed. Its not that hard to sell goods to other countries. Its just easier logisitics wise to send goods to the US. Most of our exports to the US are energy by the way and you never have problems selling that to a large range of countries. After all you start wars over it. The US on the other hand is going to find it allot harder to sell their goods and already is by the evidence of your expanding trade deficit.

Bush can't do anything to Airbus period. They aren't anymore subsidized than Boeing. Its just that Airbus is upfront about it where as the yanks think they are clever by hiding it in Military Contracts. Probably more of those $600 toilets seats that military likes buying. At least Pratt&Whitney/GE know the future they have developed an engine for the 380 to compete with RollsRoyce. Of course the Europeans will most likely buy the RollRoyce and keep the business in Europe.

You can't even build servo motors for your weapons system and fighter jets anyore because the company that owns the magnet technology is now owned by the chinese.

Its about time you "Get Over" your overblown attitude about who needs who.

 

[JFK]

However you did take notice that when the bush administration notified the europeans that we were going to take them to court over airbus their response was lets sit down and talk about this.

Is this the same court that when your country loses, just says f*ck the court and doesn't obey by it's decision?

 

[BC visitor]

Canada's #1 export by $ value is Manufacturing

Canada's #1 export by $ value is Manufacturing, specifically automotive manufacturing. I think a lot of Canadians think the main exports are raw materials but actually it is Manufacturing. Raw materials have very little value added, but manufactured goods have the cost of the raw materials and the cost of the value added in the manufacturing process.

In 2003 with valuations in Canadian $:

Canada total exports = $381 billion ($327 billion to the US)

Ontario total exports = $189 billion ($173 billion to the US)

Quebec total exports = $64 billion ($53 billion to the US)

Alberta total exports = $57 billion ($51 billion to the US)

British Columbia total exports = 30 billion ($20 billion to the US)

Automotive manufacturing exports account for 17.5% of total Canadian exports

Petroleum extraction & refining exports account for 15.1% of total Canadian exports

Papermill, Sawmill & Pulp mill exports account for 7.5% of total Canadian exports

Utilities (electrical power) exports account for 0.53% of total Canadian exports (I checked this everal times as I cound not believe it also but that is $1.9 billion in exports)

All this data came from this site http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/...ICS&toFromCountry=CDN&cacheTime=962115865#tag

which is pulling data from Statistics Canada

On the import side, the automotive manufacturing industry accounts for 21% of Canada's imports from the US.

So if you really wanted to hurt the US, go after the auto industry, but this might be like cutting off you nose to spite your face.

As side note, Ontario past Michigan in quantity of Autos produced by State/Province.

My opinion, the Soft Wood tarrif is wrong. But I have read that many in this industry in Canada have said this tarrif has been good in forcing the industry to become more competitive. But that certainly does not justify it.

Raw materials, especially oil, contribute very significantly to Canada's positive balance of trade, but in dollar value, the auto manufacturing industry out strips it 3 fold.

I just thought I would throw some facts into the war of words.

 

[RoadKill]

Yes the tarrifs have made the forest industry wake up and make them selves more efficient.

BC had the highest labour component in a finished product than any where else in the world. This has been addressed with the Monroe Report.

Industry has slashed its managerial and office staff. Centralized office operations and shrunk head office overheads.

Government has come to the table with a newly revamped stumpage system based on Market Pricing (as per the US whining).

So labour, Industry and Government have all done their part, now we need the protectionest dick heads to wake up and let it go.

Over 4 Billion in tarrifs are being held illegaly by the commerce department.

But it is the same old story, if the US gets a ruling they do not like they will either ignore it or change the rules.

 

[BC visitor]

Name calling

now we need the protectionest dick heads to wake up and let it go.

Everything always ends up with name calling. Why does this happen? All this makes me want to do is post less and I find myself visiting less often. This reduces the site's stats. This can have a nagative impact on the advertising revenue for the site and eventually lead to its end.

 

[rickoshadows]

Yes the tarrifs have made the forest industry wake up and make them selves more efficient.

BC had the highest labour component in a finished product than any where else in the world. This has been addressed with the Monroe Report.

Industry has slashed its managerial and office staff. Centralized office operations and shrunk head office overheads.

Government has come to the table with a newly revamped stumpage system based on Market Pricing (as per the US whining).

So labour, Industry and Government have all done their part, now we need the protectionest dick heads to wake up and let it go.

Over 4 Billion in tarrifs are being held illegaly by the commerce department.

But it is the same old story, if the US gets a ruling they do not like they will either ignore it or change the rules.

The US forestry industry has created it's own monster by adding costs to softwood lumber products from BC. the resulting "survival of the the most efficient" has resulted in companies which can out produce and at lower cost anything the US can do. Let's be realistic, Canada can not produce the fruits and veggies that the US can by an accident of geography, on the other hand, the same accident of geography has blessed us with a lot of softwood. So we buy your fruits and veggies, and you buy our softwood.

Unfortunately there are elements within the US administration that just don't get it. (usually self labeled as champions of free enterprise) It seems that if you can't compete, the other guy must be cheating. Time to grow up and realize that playing fair has the greatest long term benefit for everyone, including yourselves.

rickoshadows

 

[RoadKill]

playing fair

what a concept