Yes, it's promising, until you consider the source:
US ambassador hints at lumber dispute resolution with Canada
US ambassador David Wilkins offered an olive branch in a lumber dispute with Canada during a speech at a Toronto luncheon, on the heels of a war of words between Ottawa and Washington.
"I understand and appreciate Canada's position on softwood lumber. You have made legitimate points. I am very encouraged, as you should be, by recent developments in the past six weeks," Wilkins said, after earlier rebuffing Prime Minister Paul Martin's criticisms of US environmental policies.
Wilkins was referring to a decision in November by the US Department of Commerce to comply with a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel decision ordering the United States to reduce punishing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
So that's it? It's over? Finally? Whoops, hold on ...
Washington could still make an "extraordinary challenge" to the NAFTA panel ruling under the trade pact that would take additional time.
Gosh, is anyone in a betting mood?
1 comment:
US ambassador David Wilkins offered an olive branch...
This son of a bitch should have offered us ten dozen tollhouse cookies, numerous kegs of beer, nude calendars featuring the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, and ONE HUGE FUCKING APOLOGY for his country's lying and double-dealing regarding this lumber dispute.
Christ, we should have looked at America's record with honoring treaties with their aboriginal peoples before we signed that goddamned NAFTA.
(And yes, Canada's record with its aboriginal people is similarly appalling and withering)
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