Posted on 11/27/2005 4:42:00 PM PST by cope85
US blinks in softwood standoff 11/24/2005 WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Commerce Department announced it would comply with a NAFTA panel's order to cut a 16 percent duty on Canadian softwood lumber imports -- for now. Even though the Bush Administration still strongly disagrees with the repeated NAFTA rulings in Canada's favor, it will comply, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said yesterday. "We have serious concerns about the panel's decision. However, consistent with our NAFTA obligations, we have complied with the panel's instructions," Gutierrez said in a press release.
The ruling effectively means that the Americans would reduce duties from about 16 percent to less than one per cent. Separate antidumping tariffs averaging about 4 percent will not be affected.
While protectionists oppose the move to lift softwood tariffs, US consumer groups applauded the move However, the government says it's asking for clarification of the ruling -- meaning the duties on Canadian imports can remain in place for another 45 days. Officials also added they have the right to appeal the ruling. The two counties have been at odds over the softwood issue for years. Canada says the duties are in violation of the free trade agreement. The U.S. has argued that Canadian softwood is subsidized because it's cut on Crown timberland, while U.S. softwood is sawed privately, placing it at a competitive disadvantage.
Canada accounts for about one-third of the U.S. supply of softwood, used mainly in homebuilding.
As expected, U.S. protectionist industry groups decried the move. However, consumer commended the Department of Commerce for "finally doing the honorable and right thing in recalculating lumber duties as directed."
American Consumers for Affordable Homes (ACAH), representing more than 95 percent of lumber consumption in the U.S., said such duties only punish consumers. "These duties on Canadian softwood lumber increase the cost of a new home by at least $1,000, pricing more than 300,000 families out of mortgage eligibility and home ownership," said Susan Petniunas, spokesperson for ACAH.
Industries that depend on lumber as an input and that oppose import restrictions include manufacturers of value-added wood products, lumber dealers, manufactured and on-site home builders, remodeling contractors, mattress and box springs manufacturers, and individuals, says ACAH.
come on in anyone
What exactly is it that we export to Mexico? (besides jobs)
Right on schedule with merging our countries by 2010 as per the Council on Foreign Relations agenda.
we only have one vote in nafta,Mexico and Canada LOVE it
One big happy global village ping.
you got it
thanks to the N.G.O
What are NGOs?Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become quite prominent in the field of international development in recent decades. But the term NGO encompasses a vast category of groups and organizations.
The World Bank, for example, defines NGOs as “private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.” A World Bank Key Document, Working With NGOs, adds, “In wider usage, the term NGO can be applied to any non-profit organization which is independent from government. NGOs are typically value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service. Although the NGO sector has become increasingly professionalized over the last two decades, principles of altruism and voluntarism remain key defining characteristics.”
Different sources refer to these groups with different names, using NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), charities, non-profits charities/charitable organizations, third sector organizations and so on.
These groups can encompass a wide variety of groups, ranging from corporate-funded think tanks, to community groups, grassroot activist groups, development and research organizations, advocacy groups, operational, emergency/humanitarian relief focused, and so on. While there may be distinctions in specific situations, this section deals with a high level look at these issues, and so these terms may be used interchangeably, and sometimes using NGOs as the umbrella term.
Since the 1970s, it has been noted how there are more non-governmental organizations than ever before trying to fill in the gaps that governments either will not, or cannot.
The above-mentioned World Bank document points out that “Since the mid-1970s, the NGO sector in both developed and developing countries has experienced exponential growth.... It is now estimated that over 15 percent of total overseas development aid is channeled through NGOs.” That is, roughly $8 billion dollars. Recognizing that statistics are notoriously incomplete, the World Bank adds that there are an estimated 6,000 to 30,000 national NGOs in developing countries alone, while the number of community-based organizations in the developing world number in the hundreds of thousands.
Such organizations must operate as a non-profit group. While in that respect, NGOs are meant to be politically independent, in reality it is a difficult task, because they must receive funding from their government, from other institutions, businesses and/or from private sources. All or some of these can have direct or indirect political weight on decisions and actions that NGOs make
I shouldn't be, but am in shock to see this in writing. I've heard about it of course...
We can't even get a permanent checkpoint built in the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector to filter who is coming to our country.
thanks to Bush and his best pal, Vicente Fox.
As a citizen in Kansas City, Missouri I'm fighting against this proposed pilot program.
Considering the historic nature of this arrangement, however, one would expect that there would be some documentation, including documented permission from the federal government, which traces the genesis of locating a Mexican customs facility within the sovereign border of the United States.
Surprisingly, Kansas City SmartPort president Chris Guiterrez and Councilwoman Bonnie Sue Cooper claim that there are no documents. And shockingly, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council obligated the funds for this pilot project based on nothing more substantial than it being a good idea.
Moreover, there are major concerns that have not been adressed.
We may be able to glean some information regarding the various issues associated with cross-border inspection services from the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade. The Center’s findings are contained in a study, “Expanding Trade through Safe and Secure Borders,” conducted by The University of Arizona’s Office of Economic Development.
The Center suggests that, “If cross-border inspection services are envisioned as an eventual element of the CyberPort concept, it would be advisable to conduct an in-depth study of possible civil liability and insurance issues, which could very likely become a concern for certain U.S. agencies.” Moreover, the Center also noted that the concept of an inland port would require “enhanced security.”
The Center’s April 2004 newsletter, “The Inter-American Trade Report” Carlos Guzman-Leuffer explains that, “One of the most important obstacles that would face any proposal of the Cyberport project is the sovereignty issue in the NAFTA countries...”
Our City Council and economic development officials seem unconcerned about the state of Missouri's sovereignty.
Why do we even bother fighting this? It's clear our destiny has been determined by the ruling class.
I'm going to fight it. The U.S. citizens in Kansas City, Missouri should not have to wait until the ink is dry on the paper to have a voice in this arrangement.
Good!! Keep us posted?
Chris Guiterrez was anything but transparent when I spoke to him about this 8 weeks ago. When he asked me what my concerns were I stated that I was unconfortable with the fact that the facility will be the sovereign territory of Mexico. He stated that that was untrue. Ha! I quoted back to him his own statements in Logistics Today that confirmed that the facility will be Mexican territory. He was silent. What really irritates me is that Kansas City Smartport is not subject to Missouri's Sunshine law. How convenient. If I want documents I have to file a FOIA request to multiple federal agencies.
Were any GM workers in Mexico or Canada part of the recent layoff announcement? I worked on a GM parts distribution system in the late 90's to make the GM parts distribution seamless between US/Canada/Mexico.... guess it was a success!
I also spoke with the AP reporter about this issue. She said that the people she interviewed were also concerned with the issues I brought up. I asked her why she didn't put those concerns in her article. No answer.
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