What the hell happened to NAFTA?

[Krusher]

Originally posted by Thrawn
Holy crap can the US compete on a fair playing field or not??
 

So how do you feel about the US tech support jobs that have been going to your country by the THOUSANDS? US call centers can not compete with the low wages in Canada. I just read that Xerox is closing one of its North Texas call centers and moving the jobs to Ottawa.

I bet the US worker loses out to Mexico and Canada much more over the next decade.

[Wlfgng]

wow Thrawn.. I didn't know you could control your government..

you are truly a PC wussie then










jk.. your GOVERNMENT is full of PC wussies

[Thrawn]

"Canada - U.S.

The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement implemented in 1989 was the starting point for the NAFTA to be based upon. In the case of Chapter Seven, Section A, the CUSFTA agreements pertaining to agriculture were implemented into the NAFTA. These previous agreements represented the bulk of the Canada-U.S. negotiations. Under the provisions of the CUSFTA, "all tariffs affecting agricultural trade between the United States and Canada are to be removed by January 1, 1998" (USDA, 1996). Trade between the countries increased significantly after the CUSFTA took effect. In fiscal year 1995 U.S. exports to Canada of agricultural goods set a record at $5.8 billion, while Canadian agricultural exports to the U.S. reached $5.4 billion. Canada did have provisions to use trade barriers to protect its dairy, poultry, and egg sectors, but as a result of GATT, the quotas on these commodities were required to be changed to tariff rate quotas. Despite the protectionist measures on these commodities, trade has increased in these areas also. "

http://wehner.tamu.edu/mgmt.www/nafta/spring99/Groups99/2/group2_1.htm

[narsus]

Krusher

I agree with you have seen it first hand, my previos company ditched their call center and went to Canada also. They also outsource web design in Canada and India.

[Thrawn]

Wlfgng, I said you should hold the Canadian PEOPLE responsible for thier government not a Canadian PERSON.

Kusher, what does that have to do with the treaty between our countries that your government is breaking.

[Rude]

Originally posted by popeye
Sounds like you Canadians might need a little "regime change"....

That was funny:)

[Rude]

We moved the Lifesaver factory to Canada...you know, Lifesaver Lifesaver can't be beat....twenty three flavors are fun to eat?

What more do ya want?

I think you're a whiner.

[Sikboy]

From the Text of NAFTA
http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/english/index.htm

Article 705: Export Subsidies.
3. Except as provided in Annex 702.1, where an exporting Party considers that a non-Party is exporting an agricultural good to the territory of another Party with the benefit of export subsidies, the importing Party shall, on written request of the exporting Party, consult with the exporting Party with a view to agreeing on specific measures that the importing Party may adopt to counter the effect of any such subsidized imports. If the importing Party adopts the agreed-upon measures, the exporting Party shall refrain from applying, or immediately cease to apply, any export subsidy to exports of such good to the territory of the importing Party.

The US believes that Canada is in violation of NAFTA, http://www.usitc.gov/er/nl2002/ER1119z1.htm and I believe that what we are seeing here is the begining of negotiation between countries for the implementation of Tarrifs to equalise the subsidies. However, if Canada does not acknowledge such subsidies, I think it has to go up for arbitration. I'm honestly not sure what the next step it.

In short, if you guys would just play by the rules, we wouldn't have to get rough with ya

-Sik

[Krusher]

A little google search shows that canada's Trade with the US has netted them a 109 percent increase in 7 years. Their trade with the rest of the world went up 29 percent.

yea it looks like we are screwing the Canadians really bad.

[easymo]

It all depends on what the meaning of is, is.

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Sikboy

In short, if you guys would just play by the rules, we wouldn't have to get rough with ya

-Sik

BS, the US have been squeaking about the Wheat Board, for a couple of years now.  They've investigate it 9 times and found it completely above board every time.  The US has threaten to bring Canada to the WTO and we've said, Bring it.  Because the Wheat Board has already passed NINE different audits by the US government and a dispute settlement panel of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Can anyone think of another country that agrees to a treaty, then does every thing it can to circumvent it, until the last possible second?  That's right, IRAQ baby.  The US is like IRAQ!



"A little google search shows that canada's Trade with the US has netted them a 109 percent increase in 7 years. Their trade with the rest of the world went up 29 percent. "

What does this have to do with the price of rice in China, or wheat in Canada for that matter?

[Vulcan]

LOL Welcome to the one way street of US "free trade" (otherwise known as a big pile of hypocritcal dog poo)

 

[Tumor]

 Canada has a government?

[whgates3]

NAFTA is not a free trade deal for all industries, just for ones whose workers dont vote as a block

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Tumor
 Canada has a government?

Damn, you deserve to have a post in Bush's cabinate.