Author Topic: What the hell happened to NAFTA? (Read 964 times)

Thrawn · « **Reply #45 on:** November 20, 2002, 02:50:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
canada is a country?
lazs

Go join Tumor.

And another reason why the US should treat Canada fairly.

Canadians consume more Kraft Dinner (aka Kraft Macaroni & Cheese) per capita than any other nationality on earth.

That's right, here it's considered "dinner".

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #46 on:** November 20, 2002, 02:53:04 PM »

Maybe so Thrawn.. but HERE we make fun of Canadians BECAUSE they eat Kraft Dinnah and because of your flappy heads and beady little eyes. (Terrence & Phillip from South Park)
-SW

Krusher · « **Reply #47 on:** November 20, 2002, 07:33:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Thrawn
That being said, Kusher, do you have a number for Xerox?

1-800-scre-wusa

Krotki · « **Reply #48 on:** November 20, 2002, 11:01:20 PM »

The U.S. farmers, lumber, steel and auto industries have been taking garbage from the rest of the world for over twenty years. U.S. business, have been leaving for cheaper labor. Most farmers barely break even then the Government steals their land. Shut down the lumber industry for ecological reasons.
We suffer natural disasters, who helps. A disaster hits elsewhere whose there first. the U.S. Now Canada can't even defend her self gotta let American blood defend her. Only got 30,000 military if its lucky and you complain about NAFTA. We got put in this position by the rest of the world. Everyone complains about how bad we are. the last century if you've read it we have been pulled into all conflicts by treachery of other nations to get them out of their BS and this is the kind of thanks we get. Piss off mate eh.

sling322 · « **Reply #49 on:** November 21, 2002, 01:16:42 AM »

Jeez...lets just invade em and shut em down already.

Damn Canucks.

funkedup · « **Reply #50 on:** November 21, 2002, 05:34:14 AM »

Nuke Canada.

lazs2 · « **Reply #51 on:** November 21, 2002, 08:35:46 AM »

I say leave canada alone.... unless we find oil or sumthin up there.
lazs

Kanth · « **Reply #52 on:** November 26, 2002, 02:32:42 AM »

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1037872286355&p=1012571727088

Quote

US launches plan to abolish key tariffs
By Edward Alden in Washington
Published: November 25 2002 21:59 | Last Updated: November 25 2002 21:59

The US will on Tuesday unveil a bold proposal to eliminate tariffs on manufactured goods, calling for countries in the World Trade Organisation to sweep away all duties no later than 2015.

The initiative is aimed at jump-starting the faltering Doha round of international trade negotiations, which have been overshadowed by a series of US proposals for bilateral trade agreements.

The idea could also help re-build flagging corporate enthusiasm in the US for further trade liberalisation.

The proposal, to be rolled out in Washington by Robert Zoellick, the US Trade Representative, and Donald Evans, the commerce secretary, will be presented as the culmination of a 50-year effort to remove tariffs, a grand idea the US hopes can renew momentum for tearing down trade barriers.

The key elements of the US proposal, according to industry and congressional officials briefed on the plan, are: A rapid reduction in high tariffs on non-agricultural products, so that by 2010 there would be no tariffs above 8 per cent. All tariffs would then be reduced progressively to zero by 2015. The elimination, no later than 2010, of all duties that are currently below 5 per cent. A parallel initiative calling for faster elimination of tariffs in many industrial sectors such as chemicals, paper, wood and construction equipment.

Under the scheme, developing countries would have to make the biggest cuts because their average tariffs are much higher than in the advanced economies.

On industrial machinery, for example, tariffs are 1.2 per cent in the US and 1.8 per cent in the European Union but 35 per cent in Argentina and 36 per cent in India. Under the US proposal, the US and EU would have to scrap those tariffs by 2010 while other countries would have to cut tariffs to about 6.5 per cent by that time.

The US hopes to entice developing countries by promising rapid cuts in its own remaining high tariffs. The average US tariff of 17.5 per cent on clothing would be cut to 5.5 per cent by 2010.

The US is also trying to persuade developing countries that it is in their own interests to eliminate high tariffs. A recent study by the National Foreign Trade Council, a US business lobby that provided the blueprint for the US scheme, says developing countries pay $80bn a year in tariffs, more than 70 per cent of it on trade with each other.

The NFTC said tariff elimination "creates the grand political bargain needed to beat powerful protectionist interests in both rich and poor countries."

Paul O'Neill, Treasury secretary, hinted at the initiative in a speech on Monday in Manchester, northern England. He said the US response to Japanese competition in the 1980s cemented his belief "that the world economic system should eliminate trade and tariff barriers not only because open trade gives consumers around the world more choices and better prices but because open trade spurs innovation and productivity growth.".

In the Doha negotiations, New Zealand last month proposed scrapping all non-agricultural tariffs, but put no deadline on it. The EU and Japan have tabled less ambitious proposals. The EU urged reduction of the highest tariffs, while Japan suggested a much slower pace for reducing all tariffs.

SLO · « **Reply #53 on:** November 26, 2002, 01:11:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krotki
Now Canada can't even defend her self gotta let American blood defend her. Only got 30,000 military if its lucky and you complain about NAFTA.

last time i checked 6 canadians died from an american bomb.....

last time i checked NO american has died defendin my country.....

You live in an interesting MADE up world.

try and stay with the subject.....WHEAT!!!!:eek:

and as for taking over canada....you already have numb-nuts

McDonalds, Home-Depots everywhere man.

But my country IS bigger then yours:p

Krotki · « **Reply #54 on:** November 26, 2002, 02:42:00 PM »

In response SLO I beleive you took what I said out of context cause I see that I did not make myself clear. I have given twenty nine years of my life for this country such as she be. I definately now what its like for incidents of friendly fire. I have served with Canadians several times during my career and know how they feel about Canada and the fact we had both stick together instead whats happening now. It pains me to know that six fine troopers lost their lifes to "Friendly Fire" and the U.S. has not reacted properly on the incident. Of course we don't know what has happened behind the doors either. I personnally would hate to write the incident reports to their families, explaining what happened. As above all other nations Canada has been faithful to her NATO and UN commitments. For that quote I apologise as I did get away from wheat or should I say NAFTA, into something that did not apply.

Krotki, United we stand

loser · « **Reply #55 on:** November 26, 2002, 04:41:09 PM »

Thrawn you do have a point, but the problem really begins here at home.

For years and years our Government has been ignoring the plite of farmers. While other countries (especially the US) have been pumping money into agricultural subsidies, Canada has been turning a blind eye to farmers.

The CWB is definately no help either.

In the early to mid eighties farming was a viable, if not profitable business. Today many farmer's fertilizer costs alone are more than the maximum dollar amount that a farmer can expect to achieve for any given harvest.

The short of it is that farming just doesnt pay. No person would buy stocks KNOWING that they would lose value, and no person would open a business KNOWING they would lose money. I myself know more than a few farmers who have had to sell the farm that has been in the family for generations and take crap work.

While "unfair" trading practices are part of the problem, i think that it doesnt play a big a role as one might think.

We have to sort out the problems here at home before we can look to the US to blame.

koala · « **Reply #56 on:** November 26, 2002, 07:45:44 PM »

It's so amusing to listen to the commie union workers of America squeaking about Canada trade while at the same time listening to the commie Canadian workers squeaking about the United States.

Carry on

whgates3 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 27, 2002, 12:33:32 AM »

i fail to see the tie between labour unions & communism - unions try to get the best price for their product, no? that out&out greed

Toad · « **Reply #58 on:** November 27, 2002, 12:39:43 AM »

Hey Thrawn, a US Custom Wheat Cutter buddy of mine says the Canadian govt gives a fuel subsidy to Canadian Custom Cutters when they cut in the US. Is this true?

I'm going to try to call him tomorrow to refresh my memory on that conversation. Basically, he said he can't compete with them when they come down here because they get so much compensaton for cutting outside of Canada from your government.

SirLoin · « **Reply #59 on:** November 27, 2002, 01:34:25 AM »

Thank GWB Thrawn..He don't like our lumber industry too...

Tarrif time...

Free trade..Lol