NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, this irks me a little...

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/content/investing/other/P39920.asp

I find it a little 'rich' that the Amercian government can criticise Canadian trade practices while it continues to ignore NAFTA rulings on softwood lumber.

Half of the 'complaints' on this list, are simply requiring corporations that export products to Canada to follow the same packaging/manufacturing rules that Canadian companies have to comply with. Last I checked, we were a sovereign country able to make our own laws regarding these things without a foreign country telling us to change them to make it a little easier for their corporations to compete with ours.

I'm all for the abolition of tariffs, but to complain that our lumber is 'priced too cheaply' sounds like an excuse. If you want to live in a competitive world folks, remove your own barriers before you start pointing fingers.

61 countries? It's as if the US government expects everyone else to play by their rules, and won't follow those rules when it's inconvenient for them.

It's like a guy screaming abuse at the hundreds of 'maniacs' driving down the wrong side of the road. :rolleyes:

The USA critising trade practises?

*Checks date*

Nope, April fools was last week...

seriously, for a country with a "Christian" for a leader they appear to be ignoring the "Take the plank out of your own eye before worrying about the splinter in mine" (Hideously misquoted) verse...

I wonder if Ireland is among the other sixty-one.

I'm honestly not at all surprised.
This administration has always pointed fingers directly away from themselves, and at any other unsuspecting target they can think of.
Seriously, how a group that is SO ignorant and irresponsible can be elected into office is beyond my ability to understand.

The US a bunch of hypocrites? Why, I never!

It's like a guy screaming abuse at the hundreds of 'maniacs' driving down the wrong side of the road. :rolleyes:
haha

The US a bunch of hypocrites? Why, I never!
We're all hypocrits in one way or another.

I'm sure most of them are automobile anti-dumping complaints because it's absolutely unthinkable that other countries' automakers are able to produce goods of equal or better quality without having gigantic legacy costs brought on by corporate incompetence and overdemanding unions.

The US is the ultimate hypocryte. This does not at all surprise me.

When US officials criticize another country, it's not because they personally think that other country has done something wrong.

It's because it brings them political gain to criticize that country.

Criticism is pretty much a tactic, not a statement of personal belief, in politics in general, including US politics.

We're all hypocrits in one way or another.

That's fair, however expecting Canada to change some of our packaging laws, or that American goods shouldn't have to follow the same packaging laws as Canadian corporations just because 'it's costly' for these companies to make changes is rediculous.

And their concerns about cross-border shopping seem flat when they're paying little heed to the problems that tourism will suffer once they implement passport requirements at the border.

That's fair, however expecting Canada to change some of our packaging laws, or that American goods shouldn't have to follow the same packaging laws as Canadian corporations just because 'it's costly' for these companies to make changes is rediculous.

And their concerns about cross-border shopping seem flat when they're paying little heed to the problems that tourism will suffer once they implement passport requirements at the border.

I'll agree with you I'm just tired of almost every event being blamed on the US. Does anyone remeber how we stoped the Bosnian genocide? No of course not. (NATO was there too of course)

seriously, for a country with a "Christian" for a leader they appear to be ignoring the "Take the plank out of your own eye before worrying about the splinter in mine" (Hideously misquoted) verse...

beam, not plank. bible nazi? maybe. just like that line. esp jesus yelling 'hypocrite!'

the u.s. cannot criticize anyone, unless their names rhyme with borth lorea, myran, hiraq, or duslims in general.

Umm...did anyone read the list of complaints against Canada?


-Quebec's requirement that margarine not be coloured to resemble butter.

-Quotas on dairy products, eggs and poultry.

-Marketing practices of the Canadian Wheat Board.

-Barriers to wine and spirits.

-Costly requirements for labelling foods fortified with vitamins and minerals.

-Pricing of patented medicines.

-Intellectual property rights restrictions.

-Barriers to film exports.

-Limits on foreign investment.



Now, the US does have some unfair trade practices. Many, in fact. Quotas and the banning of colors without scientific evidence of harm, however, are unfair practices as well. These practices will just give ammunition to the people that seek to restrict free trade.

I'll agree with you I'm just tired of almost every event being blamed on the US. Does anyone remeber how we stoped the Bosnian genocide? No of course not. (NATO was there too of course)

I have no problem with Americans, or America in general. I find our knee-jerk anti-americanism to be one of our worst national traits. But, fair is fair. And as a Canadian who believes in fair trade, I think the US should butt out of some things.

When I posted it, I wondered if it would be seen as just another anti-american diatribe, but that's not my intent. It's more of a sticking up for Canada diatribe.

Umm...did anyone read the list of complaints against Canada?



Now, the US does have some unfair trade practices. Many, in fact. Quotas and the banning of colors without scientific evidence of harm, however, are unfair practices as well. These practices will just give ammunition to the people that seek to restrict free trade.

Without knowing the specifics of the quotas, I'll give you that one. I don't blame America for criticizing things of that nature.

But if Quebec has a 'all margarine must not look like butter' law, as rediculous as that may be, I don't think the US has any right to force Quebec to change that law just so they can save the cost on food colouring.

Without knowing the specifics of the quotas, I'll give you that one. I don't blame America for criticizing things of that nature.

But if Quebec has a 'all margarine must not look like butter' law, as rediculous as that may be, I don't think the US has any right to force Quebec to change that law just so they can save the cost on food colouring.

I believe that the WTO does. The same thing happened in France a few years ago. They arbitrarily banned an American product due to an additive they considered harmful. When asked for evidence of harm, they could produce none.

PLEASE do not quote me on this. This was something my Professor told the class. I will try to find a link. Do not think I am trying to deceive you if a few details are incorrect.

Or perhaps it was about GMOs.

I'll E-mail my prof for some details.

I believe that the WTO does. The same thing happened in France a few years ago. They arbitrarily banned an American product due to an additive they considered harmful. When asked for evidence of harm, they could produce none.

PLEASE do not quote me on this. This was something my Professor told the class. I will try to find a link. Do not think I am trying to deceive you if a few details are incorrect.

No problem. But to my knowledge, the WTO has no force of law, whereas NAFTA does.

My point is, that if, let's say for example, all packaged food must contain specific nutritional information, while the US doesn't require it. (I know this is a non-specific, not necessarily true example.) Canadians passed the legislation so that the knowledge is at their fingertips while shopping. Why would the American product not be covered under the same laws? Why should Canadians change their legislation to save competing companies the cost to ship their products to Canada with different labels?

I think that that may have been misunderstood. I take it that he wants a standardization of packaging for common products.

Although I could be wrong.

But if Quebec has a 'all margarine must not look like butter' law, as rediculous as that may be, I don't think the US has any right to force Quebec to change that law just so they can save the cost on food colouring.
The issue is still in the air. Even other Canadian provinces are contesting this law and calling it protectionist and there may be a federal ruling later, or Quebec may have to comply under NAFTA rules.

61 countries? It's as if the US government expects everyone else to play by their rules, and won't follow those rules when it's inconvenient for them.
Don't tell me your shocked. It's hardly anything new that the US expects others to adapt to their needs.