Negotiated lumber deal sought (Condi in Canada)

[MaineDem]

OTTAWA — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said "apocalyptic language" will not help resolve a trade fight over Canadian lumber, but offered no promise Tuesday that the United States will repay billions in tariffs that Canada claims were collected improperly.

Asked whether she came to the Canadian capital with a check for the disputed $3.5 billion, Rice said, "I don't travel with that kind of money."

Rice said the United States prefers a negotiated settlement in the standoff over cheap lumber imports.

"I think it's extremely important not to speak in apocalyptic language on this," Rice said, noting that lumber is only a small part of U.S.-Canadian trade. About a quarter of all U.S. exports go to Canada each year.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/business/stories/051026lumber.shtml

"She showed a flash of anger..." later in the article.

[Spinzonner]

1. I think she had the money but

spent it all on shoes.

[tanyev]

2. "I don't travel with that kind of money."

Well, there's no need to get snippy, Condi. Maybe she was thinking of all the shoes she could buy with 3.5 billion.

[feelthebreeze]

3. My Canadian acquaintence...

explained that the U.S. owed money for soft lumber to the Canadian people and then pulled out after we received the goods. Only to come back with an offer of half of what we owe to them. This kind of thuggery stains this Nation and makes it harder to do business. The lumber was to be not taxed under the NAFTA conditions. So it sounds like Amurika is breaking trusts that have been established law between both countries. Is this what "negotiated settlements" mean Condi? We don't honor our contracts, steal your goods and then strong arm you into
accepting less?
This is a recipe for disaster for future American business. It is an eye opener as to how proper action is seen by this den of thieves that has stolen so much already.

[Canuckistanian]

8. We've been "negociating" for years

So, we turned to the dispute settlement mechanism. In all rulings (I think there were four) we won.

In the last settlements, the US was found to have improperly levied the duties (the $5B).

Now they're saying this should be negociated again? Sorry, time to pay up or NAFTA is inoperative.

[SidDithers]

9. Not quite correct, but close...

Canadian softwood lumber has had an extra "penalty" tariff applied to it for the last few years, because the US lumber lobby claimed that the reason Canadian lumber was less expensive than US lumber was because the Canadian government was subsidizing the Canadian lumber producers. Unfortunately for the US, the NAFTA dispute resolution panel has consistently ruled that the Canadian government is not subsidizing the Canadian lumber industry, and so the tariff was ruled illegal. The US was ordered to repay the monies collected by the tariff, about $5 billion $CDN.

But now they want a negotiated settlement.

Sid

Edit for wording.

[tuvor]

4. It's actually $5 billion. And we DID negotiate on this already.

I think it resulted in something called "NAFTA".

Theft is theft is theft. If the shoe were on the other foot, I'm sure we'd already be on the receiving end of some good ol' US-style retaliation.

[enigma000]

5. 5 billion CND / 3.5 billion USD

Must be an exchange rate when the tariffs were collected. . . . . .

[tuvor]

10. Actually, at current rates, $5B CDN = >$4B US. n/t

[underpants]

6. Legalize Hemp

Sorry I just thought someone should say it.

[underpants]

7. Can we give them back the Expos?

Just an idea. We really don't have much else...seriously we are broke.

[goforit]

11. Hiding out Condi?

[saigon68]

12. She couldn't hide anywhere

where would she hide?

[jazzjunkysue]

16. Thanks. Now I'm gonna have nightmares.

:scared:

[Spazito]

13. Condi is just helping harden Canadian opinions on this issue

and at this point 77% already want to restrict energy sales to the US until the bush admin adheres to NAFTA rules.

[applegrove]

14. One set of rules for neocons... another set for everyone else. Sorry -

but our patience for your bullshit is wearing thin. If this is how you treat NAFTA now - how will you treat it when you need water & oil desperately?

"Apocalyptic language" - yeah Rice - we all know apocalyptic language is only for the wars you sell to your people and all. Oh - I guess apocalyptic language is fine in churches. And in T.V. commertials selling products. But when emotion is felt by the people and reflected by their government because of big loss and obfustication on an issue by a neighbour - well then it is just inappropriate.

So - it is in our best interest to divest. So China becomes a player in our economy and can save us from your bullshit if neocons still are in power, or get back into power, in 10, 20 years.

I mean it seems as if Bush is going to sell off all "public" land to corporations. And perhaps that is what you want for us. But you know what "sunshine"? We like our public systems. We like that allot.

So stop setting the bar at "we have to negotiate". We won in the tribunal many times. Stop penalizing us for something we didn't do. And send the $3.5 Billion back to our lumber producers so we can rebuilt the tattered industry. You gave that "penalty money" to your corporations..not wanting any of it to go to US government coffers - less that slow down "sinking government in a bathtup".

Oh - and don't try to bully us into privatizing all of our public lands so you assholes can start buying it up for water rights & lumber rights of your own. We like the "public good". Chew on that "bat girl" and get back to us. Your "spiky power boots" mean nothing to us - as we are a muckluck nation. You look ridiculous. Everywhere you go this washington winter a gang of frustrated Secret Service agents will have to hack the ice in your path into bits so you can actually walk in them. You are a ridiculous creature. Stop lecturing us on how to feel. Aparently you can analyze but you cannot feel. That's your problem. Not ours. Don't scold us because we are not rote robots! Piss off! **** off! And don't come back - ever.

[applegrove]

15. This is an excellent article on Rice. n/t

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x167628