Saturday, July 22, 2006

The Harlem Globetrotters of International Trade Conflict Resolution Panels

Canada wins another Softwood case.

posted by calgarygrit at 3:12 a.m.

12 Comments:

  • We beat the Washington Generals... again? Amazing! Who would have figured.

    By Blogger Red Tory, at 11:12 a.m.  

  • That's a huge victory. Except for the appeal period, the appeal, the next appeal, and then the appeal to the US Supreme Court in 2012. That's the problem with rejecting the softwood deal, you will be outta luck for the next 10 years fighting in court. Andrew Coyne was bang on when he wrote that Canada has done nothing but win in the courts and look where we are.

    By Blogger The Rat, at 12:46 p.m.  

  • Um, the rat is wrong, there are only two potential avenues of appeal, and it is completely possible for either side to request leave to the SC and skip the Federal Court of Appeal. You might be out of luck for 4 years tops, not 10, but whatever, lets bend over and take it from the Yanks.

    By Blogger fartcatcher, at 1:13 p.m.  

  • Serious bonus points for the headline. LOL!

    By Blogger Jason Townsend, at 5:01 p.m.  

  • Did anyone even bother to read the news article...

    "On the basis of the decision, the group representing British Columbia lumber interests says that the Canadian lumber industry should get back $1.2-billion (U.S.), or roughly 26 per cent of the $4.6-billion in duties it has paid out since May, 2002."

    So we're getting more back than we actually should. If that's your definition of "taking it up the ass", I'd wonder what your definition of "fair" would be?

    By Blogger Daniel Lalonde, at 11:55 p.m.  

  • Yep, I definetly think we shouldn't give in on this. Lets fight it if it takes 20 years. I mean, all those forresty workers that lost their jobs will understand. Principal is WAY more important here than economics.

    Having said that, it never ceases to amaze me what a shitty job our bureacrats do in negotiations. Here we have canadian beaureaucrats up against american businesses. We lose. With the indians they have private indusrty lawyers and negotiators against government bureacrats. We lose. It seems to me that government bureaucrats go into the government becuase they can't get jobs in the private sector. I government if you srew up you get promoted. In private industry if you screw up you'r looking for a new job.

    We should sign the softwood agreement and then serve notice to the yanks that from here on in its hardball ON OUR TERMS. We have the oil, power, gas and water they want. Heres the price and heres how your going to pay. Don't like it, then buy you oil from Venezuala or Iran. Period. Oh, and as a metter of principal, waters not for sale no matter what the price is. Call it payback.

    By Blogger Fred Mc, at 2:33 a.m.  

  • fred mc,

    It's a good thing our trade relationships consists only of softwood lumber right? Or wait, less than 3%?!?

    Great idea on the "hardball". That will really teach the U.S. I forget, when did Canada become a superpower?

    I'm not saying I want to cave into the U.S., but I also don't want to stoop to their level. I think we should sign the negotiated settlement and try to build upon it over the next five years. I don't think we can afford more appeals and I don't think our industry can either.

    I particularly don't think we need to develop more of a hate-on for the U.S. than we already do. They buy 85% of our exports do we really want a trade war?

    People need to get over themselves. This is business.

    By Blogger Forward Looking Canadian, at 8:45 a.m.  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Greg, at 9:22 a.m.  

  • Riley wrote: Great idea on the "hardball". That will really teach the U.S. I forget, when did Canada become a superpower?

    Just last week Riley. Our PM said we are an energy Superpower.

    By Blogger Greg, at 9:24 a.m.  

  • Greg,

    Touche. While I don't think we're quite an energy superpower yet, I do like that tagline.

    Energy superpower doesn't equate into superpower. The U.S. isn't a superpower just because they have major military assets, it's because they have the most extensive set of diplomatic tools the world has ever seen. They have purchase power we could never dream of and the hammer at the other end to enforce it.

    Canada does not have that. I'm glad we don't and I like that we are generally humble and principals on certain issues. Softwood lumber should not be political. We negotiated a deal, we should take it. It's business. We shouldn't make it petty just because Canadians have a superiority complex with the United States.

    But your line about the "superpower" was a good jab. I should have known it'd come up..

    By Blogger Forward Looking Canadian, at 11:49 a.m.  

  • Fred MC,

    Your assessment of bureaucrats is downright foolish. Do you think the average bureacrat even steps foot near a negotiation? The ones that do are government lawyers and policy experts who do the grunt work. In the end however, it's the country's policial masters who finalize text and agree on a deal.

    No decision is finalized without the approval of cabinet. Bureaucrats have no decision making power... it's all in the hands of cabinet.

    By Blogger Environmental_Pundit, at 9:43 a.m.  

  • Keep up the good work. thnx!
    »

    By Blogger elephantcom, at 6:31 a.m.  

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