Canada threatens US with 'Don't Buy American'

As the "Buy American" plan in US economic stimulus legislation draws increasing criticism, Canadian municipal leaders threaten to retaliate against the movement, which it deems contrary to free trade.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, in an effort to get the "Buy American" restrictions removed, took a step to support communities which refuse to trade with countries that put business restrictions on products and services from Canada.

The move came in response to a stimulus package passed by US Congress in February which requires projects funded with stimulus money to use only US-made steel, iron and manufactured goods.

Well, I can understand the US wanting to keep things inside for a little bit. It will help them in the long run, however it is already hurting Canada, and European countries.

I thought this had already been taken care of however, I thought Obama had removed or relaxed the rule?

Citing that more than 250 Canadian companies have lost contracts -- and subsequently jobs -- due to the act Jayson Myers, president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, said that the two sides could "get into some retaliatory trade war around procurement."

Leave it to democrats to start Trade wars with other countries.

Argh, More of the same.

~Keeper

Source

reply to post by tothetenthpower


It is hard to buy American even if you are American. Most of what passes for American now comes from another country no one dares to critisize. Canada will back down because of this.

reply to post by eradown


This is what they are talking about. The stimulus money can only be used on AMERICAN made steel, iron or merchandise. It can't be imports.

This is what is hurting everybody since the US has more imports than exports. It makes for a very small market while the rest are hung out to dry.

~Keeper

There is a thread already started on this issue www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by HulaAnglers


This isn't the same topic friend.

This article is about Canadians opposing this in general, the other is about a bill they just passed.

Same issue, different topic.

~Keeper

How about we cut off our natural resources?
I'm not sure on specifics, but the population to size ratio leads me to believe that there's really nothing we need to import. Let's spend our stimulous money (now 50 billion) on creating jobs in sectors where americans are our biggest suppliers. They cannot create water with a stimulus package....not sustainably, at least.
oversimplified, yes, but i'm sure there's a technical way to say what i'm sayig that seems feasable.
Pretty sure anyways.

What nobody on here seems to be mentioning is the fact that it is U.S. Taxpayer money funding the stimulus packages, not Canadian. It should be limited to only American Companies getting the jobs that are funded by American Taxpayers.

reply to post by ohioriver



pretty sure that there was a 50 billion dollar stimulous package. It just increased from 30, and is in our budget.
You think that america is the only country in the world that has taken a downturn?

reply to post by ohioriver


Unfortunetly that is not how things work. Americans introduced free trade as a way to help all countries expand economically and be able to provide a wide variety of goods and services to most industrialized nations.

The fact that the US is going backwards on this policy is not only a sign of political change and economic protectionism, but it is also hurting all other nations.

The US imports MORE than it exports. They dont' make very much, but the things they do make, are very important.

This buy only American serves only to make the price more so less work can be done in a longer period of time.

The US isn't the only country suffering, and pusing ideals like this won't help anybody. This could lead to the mother of all trade wars.

~Keeper

what our Canadian friends need to understand is the majority of U.S. Citizen WERE NOT in favor of free trade with anyone.

you also need to realize it is our tax money that is being used against our will by Washington so WE WANT OUR STOLEN MONEY TO STAY IN OUR COUNTRY!

Canada doesn't want to get in a trade war with the U.S. You think Canada is hurting now you guys really would be hurting if a trade war broke out. you guys don't realize just how much of the everyday items you use comes through the U.S. either by us making it or using our ports to import it. and how much is transported through the U.S. to Canada.

What do you think will happen if A trade war breaks out do you think you'll still get all those items? NO you will not. anything bound for Canada that comes through the U.S. will be stopped before it reaches the border. Then what are you going to do?

Also don't forget about all the border towns in Canada that depend on the U.S. for water, gas, and electricity. yep if a trade war broke out all those people would be without those necessities until Canada could provide it for there citizens along the border.

Bottom line is forget about a trade war. your government needs to focus on a way to help your country without depending on U.S. taxpayers to save your butts. Our wallets are stretched enough bailing out U.S. Companies against our will!

reply to post by Mercenary2007


It really has nothing to do with Tax Payer money. And no, if a trade war broke out, we would most likely be in better shape, since we have major ports at both ends of the country that work day and night.

This isn't about Canada relying on the US for anything. It's just stupid for your guys to contain your trade within yourselves. It will alienate other countries and when you do need a service that only we can provide (let's seem like sattelite technology or WATER) we will jack up the price and make you folks pay through the nose for it.

There is no reason to not invite other countries to operate within your boarder. The US already outsources most of it's business to other countries, so what would be the difference?

Yes it's important to create American jobs and to keep a stable platform of industry, but alienating the rest of the world with this kind of protectionism is not intelligent.

~Keeper

Originally posted by Mercenary2007
Canada doesn't want to get in a trade war with the U.S. You think Canada is hurting now you guys really would be hurting if a trade war broke out. you guys don't realize just how much of the everyday items you use comes through the U.S. either by us making it or using our ports to import it. and how much is transported through the U.S. to Canada.

What do you think will happen if A trade war breaks out do you think you'll still get all those items? NO you will not. anything bound for Canada that comes through the U.S. will be stopped before it reaches the border. Then what are you going to do?

You do know we have ports on both coast(Halifax being the deepest on the East coast)? You've got it wrong my friend. Many of those huge liners go to Halifax as they can't dock anywhere else. That would mean that we are shipping products from there to the States.

Also don't forget about all the border towns in Canada that depend on the U.S. for water, gas, and electricity. yep if a trade war broke out all those people would be without those necessities until Canada could provide it for there citizens along the border.

Again wrong. Canada is the largest exporter of oil to the States. Same with water. Oh, and electricity too. You may want to reconsider a trade war.

reply to post by Mercenary2007



building ports to bring in new goods would be a great way to create jobs. America can be replaced, imo. I realize that in the current system that seems almost impossible, so we just need to change the system.
Where i'm from, in bc, there was a huge softwood lumber dispute that costed us billions...both sides get the short end of the stick.

reply to post by intrepid


You certainly are correct Intrepid, thanks for the assist.

We would be in great shape if the US attempted a trade war with us, just look at California, they owe us billions of dollars in energy fees they havent paid yet and we still provide them with electricity.

If BC wanted to be mean about it, they could cut off all services until the power bills were paid.

~Keeper

reply to post by intrepid


Not only Halifax but Dalhousie and St. John. Plus about 6 smaller ports in between that can handle nearly any shipping in the area. I've hauled out of most of them and they are not in any trouble for freight.

Zindo

"You think Canada is hurting now you guys really would be hurting if a trade war broke out. you guys don't realize just how much of the everyday items you use comes through the U.S. either by us making it or using our ports to import it."

Yeah, look out Canadians, if a trade war breaks out you won't have access to McDonalds, KFC, video games and the disreputable American media. How will you ever survive.

reply to post by ZindoDoone


Not to mention the St. Lawrence Seaway:

Comprised of the St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, Hwy H2O is a 3,700-kilometer (2,300 mile) marine highway that runs between Canada and the United States. Hwy H2O flows directly into our commercial, industrial and agricultural heartland, home to some 100 million people, roughly one quarter of the Canada/U.S. combined population.

Cargo moves freely along the waterway reliably arriving at its destination on time. Some 41 ports serve as on/off ramps connecting to a vast network of roadways and rail lines providing complete door-to-door service.

www.greatlakes-seaway.com...

reply to post by Mercenary2007


You can't possibly beleive what you wrote can you??

"Canada doesn't want to get in a trade war with the U.S. You think Canada is hurting now you guys really would be hurting if a trade war broke out. you guys don't realize just how much of the everyday items you use comes through the U.S. either by us making it or using our ports to import it. and how much is transported through the U.S. to Canada."

LOL do you not know we have airports and seaports?????? what you think Canada lives in a box in the middle of the states. you better know that a GREAT part of the lumber,WATER and electricity come from us stupid Eskimos up here in the north.

"Also don't forget about all the border towns in Canada that depend on the U.S. for water, gas, and electricity. yep if a trade war broke out all those people would be without those necessities until Canada could provide it for there citizens along the border."

you have this backwards ........ but you didn't know ... we understand how Americans think the UNIVERSE evolves around them.

Flame out....................

reply to post by tothetenthpower


OK .How about you pay an added 6% tax out of your paycheck to help fund it then. How would you feel about that?. I guess its fine as long as your country doesn't have to pay for it.

Originally posted by heyo
reply to post by ohioriver

 

pretty sure that there was a 50 billion dollar stimulous package. It just increased from 30, and is in our budget.
You think that america is the only country in the world that has taken a downturn?

Again, I have to ask. Since you want the jobs paid for by American taxpayers, would you be willing to have an added 6% tax took out of your paycheck to help fund it? How about half of the Canadian stimulus money can be used to give Americans the jobs that need done in Canada.