U.S. lauds softwood deal, Layton calls it 'a crime'

[Minstrel Boy]

U.S. lauds softwood deal, Layton calls it 'a crime'

The Bush administration and U.S. lumber industry groups today praised a deal — which it said it had hammered out with the Harper government — to end the long-running softwood lumber dispute, one of the costliest trade wars in history.

...

NDP Leader Jack Layton called the proposed deal "a crime" while at least two provinces and other Canadian business groups denounced it and threatened to scuttle it. Shares of Canadian lumber companies dropped today as analysts derided the deal.

"The deal is awful, just awful. It basically marginalizes the Canadian industry over the next seven years," Richard Kelertas, an analyst at Desjardins Securities, said in an interview.

...

According to a copy of the proposal obtained by The Globe and Mail, the United States would lift its 10-per-cent duty and refund 80 per cent of the more than $5-billion it has collected from Canadian companies over the past four years. In return, Canada would cap its exports at 34 per cent of the lucrative U.S. market and collect a sliding tax designed to discourage companies from exceeding the quota. Under the proposal, the Conservative government would let the U.S. lumber industry keep $1-billion in duties taken from Canadian companies since 2002.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060427.wsoftwood0427/BNStory/National/home

[Me.]

1. Hey Minstrel Boy

Good to see you, haven't seen your posts in a while.

[Roland99]

2. Anyone else not surprised by this move?

All the * admin had to do was wait it out until conservatives took over in Canada.

And all over a measly $1 billion? Fucking greedy bastards.

[mainegreen]

3. Good. Working forests in the US are in enough trouble already.

[Lisa]

4. "cap its exports at 34% of the lucrative US market"

One of the many wonders of "free trade", I presume.

[applegrove]

5. From now until the end of time, Canada will only be able to sell to

34% of the U.S. market. How's that for comparative advantage!!!

[daleo]

6. Canada gave up energy independence for "free trade"

So much for that. It is strange how Harper is undoing so much of Mulroney's handiwork (free trade accord, GST). But he is giving up things, with little in return. I wonder who is calling the shots.

[warrens]

7. That's not so good, eh?

The arrogance is unreal. The U.S. has lost three times in NAFTA courts, and has just said, well tough, we're not paying you fuckers, so why don't you MAKE us, you pansies! So now Canada gets 80 cents on the dollar, a discount given for no reason other than the U.S. just refuses to pay.

Arrogant SOBs.

[Tempest]

8. Harper's delicate coalition government just suffered a fatal blow

He won't make it through the fall.

[HuffleClaw]

10. no kidding

people are gonna be burning him in effigy over this. i guess he's simply determined to do as much damage before he's turfed from office. a scorched earth policy i guess. its downright scary.

[HuffleClaw]

9. MEEEP

ok, this one is gonna have folks just PEEVED. this 'dispute' has been going on for a LOOOONG time, despite the fact Canada has won every single court case involving it (except maybe one), due to american refusal to accept defeat.

basically, harper has given into american demands despite being in a waaay stronger position. this is complete madness and a total toadying to BUSH. i bet even harpers own party is gonna be pissed about this. its been a matter of canadian pride for a long time now that we've held the upper hand in this dispute and now, along comes harper and gives up the ship.

i am truly appalled.

[BillZBubb]

11. I love it!!!!!!

Canadians were foolish enough to elect an imbecile after seeing what a imbecile has done in the US. Their imbecile got punked by our imbecile! USA! USA! USA!

[SoCalDem]

12. Yep.. Your dummy is dummy-er than OUR dummy

[jamesinca]

13. and our dummy is the decider dummy

in addition to being the less dummy-er of the two dummies.

Seriously though, one has to ask why? Why would he do this, why would he walk out on his people and country? It is a deal that is no good for Canada, why would he do it? He either knows something real special, or he does not have Canada's best interest at heart.

[enigma000]

14. Perhaps Harper thought it was the best deal possible

the softwood issue could go to another round of arbitration or a deal could be cut now. At least it is settled now.