(Trade) War Within A Breath

Their existence is a crime
Their seat their robe their tie
Their land deeds
Their hired guns
They're tha crime
Shots heard underground round tha rapture
Tha world's eye captured
--RATM

The US has not amended the Byrd Amendment, and it looks like we are ready for payback. The US should realize that we are their biggest
1) Buyer
2) Supplier
We have to realize our own strength when dealing with US trade practices which have really been detrimental to their own prosperity and their allies. What did Britain get for their cooperation in Iraq? Steel Sanctions! What do we get for helping out in Afghanistan and cooperating on security? BSE bans, Softwood duties and WTO defiance.

I'll stop ranting, and I don't advocate shooting ourselves in the foot with sanctions necessarily, but maybe sabrerattling wouldn't hurt.

U.S., Canada trade war talk grows

By MARTIN O’HANLON

OTTAWA (CP) - Just a week before George W. Bush arrives for a feel-good visit with Paul Martin, Ottawa is talking tough about a possible trade war with the United States.

The federal government announced Tuesday that it is launching consultations with Canadians on possible retaliation over American duties.

It's all about the Byrd Amendment, which allows American companies to receive anti-dumping and countervailing duties collected from foreign competitors - such as those on softwood lumber.

The U.S. has failed to act on a World Trade Organization ruling that the amendment is illegal.