American position on softwood lumber is 'nonsense,' Martin tells Wall Stre

American position on softwood lumber is 'nonsense,' Martin tells Wall Street

NEW YORK (CP) - In a speech to U.S. financial power brokers Thursday, Prime Minister Paul Martin blasted American intransigence in the acrimonious softwood lumber battle as "nonsense" and "a breach of faith."

Sharply criticized at home for not getting tougher with President George W. Bush to solve the decades-long problem, Martin let loose while talking to the Economic Club of New York. America's refusal to recognize a final ruling in August under the North American Free Trade Agreement that sided with Canada is threatening the integrity of the continental pact and future economic relations, he said.

And while Martin was careful not to directly link the softwood dispute with retaliation on other trade fronts, he made it clear that countries like China provide attractive markets for Canadian goods, including energy.

"But there's no doubt that the entry of China and India on the world scene provides Canada with markets that have hitherto never been possible, huge consumer markets."

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=w100665A

seems to be working. The world is quickly realizing they don't need to be dependent on the U.S., so trying to reason with a rogue regime isn't even worth the trouble. We are so fucked if we don't get these fools out of office - ASAP.

"Canadian officials said Thursday there's mounting pressure in the United States to resolve the acrimonious trade war, including a rising clamour from the American housing industry following two devastating hurricanes."

"Removing tariffs averaging 20 per cent on Canadian lumber imports would cut the cost of a new U.S. home by an average of $1,000 and allow 300,000 more Americans to afford mortgages, said Martin, adding that many U.S. jobs depend on low-priced softwood."

We can't let Bush's silly little trade war needlessly increase the costs of re-building hurricane devastated areas.

and a good candidate for "regime change".