Grrr...

[bcholmes]

Dear United States,

You make such a big deal about other countries violating these international agreements. What is it with you guys and softwood lumber? How many different international organizations have to tell you that you're in violation of treaty?

And why are you just staring blankly as if you have no idea what I'm talking about?

Comments

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

This is one of those things, like the Japanese embargo on US beef, that Americans don't even notice.

Canada and the US have been arguing over softwood lumber since 1982, but it's gotten far, far worse in the Bush years.

During the 80s, Canada and the US signed a "Free Trade Agreement" that stated (in essence) that Canada wouldn't apply tariffs on US imports and the US wouldn't apply tariffs to Canadian imports. The US claimed to like the Free Trade Agreement, and that ultimately spawned the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA, to include Mexico) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA, to include countries in Central America).

But the US has never kept its side of the bargain. It imposes duties on Canadian softwood lumber, mostly on Ontario and the West Coast. We've had any number of rulings that say that the US is breaking our agreements. The organization that hears NAFTA complaints said so in August of 2003. The World Trade Organization said so two weeks later.

Another appeal by the US was rejected last week. The NAFTA organization had an "extraordinary challenge panel" which, once again, said that the US is in the wrong. (And remember, this is an organization that the US agreed to respect). Washington's response: oh well, we don't care. Canada had to budge, 'cause we're not.

15,000 lumber workers in British Columbia have lost their jobs because of this matter.

This dispute has been repeated on Canadian news every few months for the last five years. On the American news: nada.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason to hate my country, the Bush administration, and the American news media. We don't have any coverage of this at all here, just like the beef embargo. Thank you for telling me this. I like to know what America is doing without the knowledge of the American people. I am running two classes in the Fall that deals with American myths (the melting pot, gender, family, work, etc). Would it be ok if I print out your concise breakdown and use it in class?