Buy-American rules shutting out Canadians

If America wants to play this game, than fuck them. If they want to fuck over Canadians than we will sell out products elsewhere where they will probally be more appreciated. Hey it wont be as cheap to ship them but it's better than nothing and when America finally relises that protectionist ideas isn't going to help them or get them anywhere. We will still say fuck you and not offer our products and services to America.

So, you're advocating that we become a nation of nomadic hunters and gatherers?

Maybe we should let them buy their own oil, gas and electricity then too. Oh wait, they don't produce enough of their own. Maybe Venezuela or Iran has some extra for them...

This kind of "only buy American" is a nice jingoistic sounding frase. The problem is it doesn't work. Countries economies are interdependant; especially the American and Canadian economies with the largest undefended border in the world. Such a policy does a great deal of economic damage to both countries. Anybody seriously arguing that this should be the case has their head up their ass.

If it's some element in the the US government saying this it wouldn't be the first thime they had their heads up and locked.

Thats coming from where?

Thats coming from where?

If we don't deal with America, that's our option. If we don't sell to the USA, we might as well close up shop, build teepees and go fishing.

Surprised this is only at one page of comments so far. Here comes another wave of anti-Americanism, blah.

I'm just trying to remember how that saying goes ... something like "this to shall pass". We're just seeing a knee jerk reaction by the Americans. No it's not right but it would cost more in the long run to challenge it than it would to just wait it out. American manufactures will eventually feel somewhat secure in thinking that they have less competition coming from the Canadian side (as in the case of the PE pipe) and will soon start to over charge for their products. It will only be a matter of time before some procurement guy clues in and realizes they can get it for 25% less from a Canadian firm.

It's kind of strange that they note in this article that Americans are not bound by NAFTA on a State and local level. As far as I knew I thought they were just the same as the provinces are bound to it here. Am I wrong for thinking that?

We get the same thing here. Recall that the Liberals in BC hired some American arms manufacturer to run the database for the helath care system or somehting here. A lot of people were concerned about this, and the response of the government was that, because of free trade, they have to open the contract up to the US and Mexico.

Another good example is when the federal government effectively banned MMT (a gasoline additive) in Canada. Becasue of free trade, we had to rescind the ban and send the manufacturer of the product (Ethyl Corp) some $15 million restitution. This in spite of the fact that MMT was already banned in several US states. Go figger.

Anyways, the Golden Rule applies here. Them that has the gold, makes the rules.

Thats coming from where?

If we don't deal with America, that's our option. If we don't sell to the USA, we might as well close up shop, build teepees and go fishing.

Hmm, sounds good to me. You bring the beer and I'll bring the bait.

I think we've been trying in the last decade or so to try and get Canadian products into other markets. Unfortunately most of those other markets just want our resources, not our finished products.

The gov't is opening talks on free trade with the European Union countries, maybe we can trade with them more.. I think it will work both ways.. we can stop buying US produce.. we are the closest partner for fresh fruit and veggies.. we are entering out own growing season.. let the US produce rot on the shelves .. see how long before Florida, Idaho and California take to lobby for reciprocity

Thats coming from where?

If we don't deal with America, that's our option. If we don't sell to the USA, we might as well close up shop, build teepees and go fishing.

Can i bring my camper instead of the teepee?

Actually that's a really good point there Kenmore. It's in our best intrest to begin fostering new trade agreements so that we're not so dependant on the US for trade and vaunrable to protectionist attacks.

Actually that's a really good point there Kenmore. It's in our best intrest to begin fostering new trade agreements so that we're not so dependant on the US for trade and vaunrable to protectionist attacks.

Yeah that one comes up every few years. Like when the pacific market opened up (China and Asia) there was a lot of talk about lowering our trade dependence on the US. Easier said than done though. The US is right there--less than 50 miles away from 90% of the Canadian population.

In the immortal words of the penquins from that Madagascar movie, when the US goes into one of their periodic shit hemorrhages over trade/the border/security: "Smile and wave, boys, smile and wave."