I guess the U.S. does whatever it feels like

[Eazy E]

They obviously don't listen to the U.N., so why should they follow what NAFTA says?

Every time this issue gets brought up, the U.S. claims get shot down.... "We believe that there is still room for negotiation." ... How about just admitting that you're wrong instead of accusing Canada of making a big deal over the issue.

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Keep softwood in 'perspective' urges Rice
CTV.ca News Staff

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Canada should not let the softwood lumber dispute overwhelm the important trading relationship that exists between Canada and the United States.

"It is a trade dispute. We are working to try and resolve that trade dispute. We have mechanisms to do that," Rice told reporters in Ottawa Tuesday at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

"We believe that there is still room for negotiation."

The softwood lumber issue is a long-brewing point of disagreement between the two nations. Prime Minister Paul Martin has recently increased pressure after the U.S. ignored a North American Free Trade Agreement ruling that favoured Canada.

Rice said she would take Canada's concerns back to the White House. But in what seemed to be a warning to Ottawa, Rice said it's important to keep the softwood dispute "in perspective."

"This is a very big, important and deep relationship. ... I know that the softwood lumber issue is extremely important to Canada and extremely important to, particularly, parts of Canada."

However, "it is a small percentage of our overall trade," Rice added. "And most of the time, our trade simply goes on. Our trade disputes, we resolve them."

Pettigrew laid the blame for the dispute on the "particularly difficult" U.S. lumber lobby.

"You have my sympathies, Condi," he told Rice. "It is a very tough lobby. And I hope very much that we will resolve that issue," he said.

Martin and members of his cabinet have stressed recently, however, that the issue is broader and more consequential than softwood -- that it puts into question Washington's commitment to the rules of NAFTA.

A Canadian official told the Canadian Press during Martin's meeting with Rice on Monday that the prime minister reinforced Canada's position that Ottawa needs some demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the important agreement.

Rice, dodging questions on NAFTA specifically, said the U.S. word has been "as good as gold" when it comes to international trade. Rice said she would like to see a resolution on softwood, "but it's important not to speak in apocalyptic language," she added. "It's an important issue, but it's a trade dispute."

NAFTA ruled that Canada does not unfairly subsidize its lumber industry. The U.S. has long claimed that it does, and has used its position as justification to impose levies on Canadian lumber.

During an interview recently in New York, Martin demanded from the U.S. the return of $5 billion in collected tariffs, and future observance of the NAFTA ruling.

The trade issue was part of a larger plan to discuss security, energy and the war in Iraq with Martin and Pettigrew.

The trip is Rice's second official visit to Canada. Her first visit was during her tenure as the U.S. national security advisor.

[Walk]

NAFTA is what's costing America jobs. It was Clinton's idea and Bush isn't doing anything about it.  It's time we did what's good for America and not everyone else. Free trade means jobs lost to sweatshop labor across the border.

[Surfrider]

It is ridiculous to blame NAFTA simply on Clinton.  The Republican Congress was in full support of it.  Probably more so than Clinton.

[Booker Floyd]

It was Clinton's idea and Bush isn't doing anything about it.?

Where did you learn this?

The agreement was actually developed by George H.W. Bush and Brian Mulroney (as well as Carlos Salinas de Gortari) before it was signed by Bill Clinton.  And as BerkeleyRiot stated, it was strongly supported by the Republicans in Congress.

[Walk]

Well, those Republicans were probably so called moderates who were actually liberals. Clinton was behind it 100% and he signed away our jobs. True conservatives are in favor of strong tariffs. A Constitution party member would never go for it.

[Prometheus]

NAFTA is what's costing America jobs. It was Clinton's idea and Bush isn't doing anything about it.? It's time we did what's good for America and not everyone else. Free trade means jobs lost to sweatshop labor across the border.

hahhahahahahahaha wow.... were sweatshop labour...... your unemployment rate is 5% not exactly high by no means.... what is costing amercia jobs is the greay economy of illegals working within the US, un taxed you start getting them as reg'ed labour and things will turn.... and it will be amazing.... as for mexico thats another story......... but you do realise that if nafta did not exist the US economy would die, as you cant keep up with demand...... and then to start shipping with tarrifs agin... ohh boy talk about inflation going on thins....... but it was a nice try

[Booker Floyd]

Well, those Republicans were probably so called moderates who were actually liberals. Clinton was behind it 100% and he signed away our jobs. True conservatives are in favor of strong tariffs. A Constitution party member would never go for it.

Thats not what you said, and youve proved my point.? You said it was "Clintons idea."  Now in fairness you probably didnt know...but you stated it anyway.  And after being corrected, instead of blaming George Bush, who developed it, or the Republican Congress (who you support when its convenient and back away from in situations like this), you still choose to assign blame to Clinton.? You have little regard for honesty, truth, or facts...youre objective is simply to attack "liberals" and prove how super-conservative you are with this goofy "Constitutional Party" rhetoric and frankly, you come across as a character.? I dont think you are a character (young and overzealous is more like it) and I recommend thinking like a real person sometimes rather than a caricature with an obsession for a website called "anus.com."  .