| Author |
Message |
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
 Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:22 pm Drop softwood talks, says Harper |
|
| Quote: | Drop softwood talks, says Harper
HALIFAX (CP) - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says that as prime minister, he'd take a hardline position with the United States and refuse to bargain over softwood.
In an apparent shift from his conciliatory style in the past on Canada-U.S. relations, Harper said Wednesday that he would tell George W. Bush there are other markets for Canada's resources.
And he said he'd suggest Canada and the U.S. each appoint special high-level envoys to determine if the U.S. really wants to continue using the free trade deal and its dispute settlement mechanism.
"If the special envoy were to conclude that this is not a direction in which the United States wishes to go, then Canada will have to make other long-term choices in its economic infrastructure," Harper said in a speech to the Tory caucus.
"We will have to put much higher emphasis in exploiting the growing demand of China, India and others for our natural resource sectors - options that did not exists in the 1980s (when free trade was negotiated.)"
U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, in Vancouver to meet with lumber industry leaders, declined to comment on Harper's envoy idea, saying only that such a decision would be up to the White House.
"Certainly without talking to our trade representative, Mr. Portman, and others I really wouldn't venture an opinion on that," he said.
"That's a position that . . . would have to be made by the White House on whether or not that would be doable."
The U.S. has collected $5 billion from Canadian companies since imposing softwood duties on the basis that Ottawa unfairly subsidizes logging companies through low stumpage fees.
The two sides have been trying to negotiate a deal for years, with little progress.
The federal Liberal government postponed negotiations last month after the U.S. refused to comply with a NAFTA ruling in Canada's favour. It called on Washington to respect the NAFTA ruling and demanded that the U.S. repay the duties.
At a news conference, Harper said it's time to do more: "We have to make decisions on where we're going to put our investments and this is not a matter of threatening the United States, it's a matter of reaching assessments of what's in our own long-term best interests."
In the meantime, he said, there's no point in returning to the softwood talks: "You don't negotiate after you've won."
Harper said special envoys are the way to go, noting they were successful in reaching a deal in the 1980s on acid rain.
The Conservative leader blasted the Liberals for their handling of the softwood issue and took aim at Prime Minister Paul Martin for failing to talk to Bush.
"Whether it's 911, the BSE crisis or hurricane Katrina, they are always reluctant to pick up the phone, though never unwilling to stage the grand photo-op."
A spokeswoman for International Trade Minister Jim Peterson dismissed the criticism and said the government is way ahead of Harper.
"We appreciate Mr. Harper's support of actions already taken by the government," said Jacquie LaRocque.
"Together with the provinces, we have closed no options when it comes to the defence of Canadian interests. We have been working on all fronts to see the duties returned to Canadians through highest political advocacy, litigation or possible retaliation.
"Right now, our two countries are rightly focused on helping the people devastated by Katrina. But we will return to this issue and when we do, we'll need to talk about the entire issue of dispute resolution."
She noted that Canada has said it will only return to the table when it's in Canada's best interests, and that Ottawa has filed a case before the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging U.S. actions.
As well, she said, Canada has requested authorization from the World Trade Organization to exercise retaliatory action against the United States for its failure to abide by its WTO obligations.
"And we are continuing with high level political intervention at all levels."
It's estimated duties on Canadian lumber add $1,000 to the cost of building a home in the United States.
Harper said rebuilding 500,000 homes in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina could cost $500 million more because of duties "imposed on American homeowners by the domestic political interests of a few companies and a few congressmen." |
Source
I never, ever thought I would say this, but . . . is that a small, tiny, mind-bogglingly infinitesimal modicum of respect for Stephen Harper?
Except for the political maneuvering involving Katrina, about which you are aware of my opinion, I'm kind of shocked that I'm agreeing with such a statement by Harper of all people.  But it's true! The NAFTA ruling has been made, yet the duties have not been repaid.
The Liberal government has a nice, shiny ideology, but do they actually do anything? I'm upset because the party that does something has ideals with which I don't agree, and the party that shares my ideals is terrible at managing my country! This is the juncture where I bang my head against a wall until I forget all about politics.
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
