[Am-info] Off Topic Question

[Telus]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Hinds" <zoro980@attbi.com>
Cc: "am-info" <am-info@venice.essential.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Am-info] Off Topic Question


> Telus wrote:
(Mike Stephen)
>
>
> > If any USA corporations are not taxed, and other members of the NAFTA
> > agreement are, in countries that are taxed, then I would assume a duty
would
> > be imposed on any exports to any other member of the NAFTA....  Or are
you
> > assuming
>
>
> The USA will again throw out any prior agreements that were made?
>
> I'm really not sure what NAFTA has to say on this issue, but certainly
international
> trade issues might arrise. In any case it seems that you assume that the
corporate
> tax rates of all countries are equal - they aren't. Similarly the cost
labor is not
> the same in all countries, yet that is not legitimate reason to impose
tariffs
> as per most international trade agreements.
>
>  > Or are you assuming The USA will again throw out any prior agreements
that were made?
> I'm not aware of any international agreements which govern the income tax
structure
> of member nations, perhaps you could provide a reference?

In British Columbia, the softwood lumber industry is in tatters after an
unfair duty was placed on softwood lumber.  This was done because some
toothpick suppliers in Arkansas claimed that the Government of Canada was
subsidising softwood lumber (this reflects a corporate subsidy and is
similar to your idea of a corporate tax free status).  Although not quite
exactly the same as corporate taxes, it boils down to the same thing.
Canada will win  in the courts of the WTO (preliminary decisions are in
favour of Canada).  However the damage is already done.  Your concept of
corporate taxation being different in different countries is a valid point.
But only affirms the tawdry actions of America regarding free trade.  Never
again should Canada (or any other nations) take America at its word.
Freetrade?  Its only free if America profits.

The difference in Canada as opposed to the USA in softwood is that the
government allows a set price for lumber companies to log timber from crown
land, agreed upon for a period of five years so lumber companies can plan
the next five years. (crown land is the land of the people of Canada, not
claimed by private ownership).  They suggested that Canada should have an
annual auction type of bidding to the lumber companies rather than a set
price decided upon by the government.

Canada responded to the American concerns by agreeing to set prices via
auction (personally I disagree with Canada having to auction off the rights
like the Americans do.  Canada is not a state of the USA and should not have
to act just like America.  In Canada Canadians decide issues in Canada, not
the americans)  but then the rules changed yet again, and it was then
determined that the USA was simply playing a shell game, and moving the goal
posts after each concession from Canada.  Finally Canada decided that there
would never be any pleasing the USA, and it has been determined that this
was exactly what America wanted.  Destroy the Canadian softwood lumber
industry, hike the prices of softwood lumber, and by the time Canada wins in
the World Trade courts, it will have acheived the price hike.

Much like Microsoft doing the nasty deeds thay have done and then after the
courts decide Microsoft was in the wrong, the illegal profits and market
domination have already been made.

>
>  > yada yada
> OK, you win the US sucks, although that wasn't my question.

Americans, if they are told the entire story, are fine,  I think most would
agree that Canada got screwed by the USA.  America the country sucks.
Americans are not truly represented by the government of America. In America
today it is the American corporations that the current government is
representing. It is America the country/government I dislike, not Americans.

Yada Yada all you like.  Facts are facts.

You are mistaken if you think it proper for America to change policy without
concern for other countries.  You are thinking within the bubble.  This has
always led to America screwing up everyone outside the bubble.
 And with a president who is incapable of thinking (moron) either within or
outsude the bubble, it can only get worse.

Canada is the best friend the USA has.  And look how the USA treats Canada!.
Makes you understand why the rest of the world thinks the way they do about
the USA.

Sometimes I wish Canada had Pierre Trudeau back again.  At least he was able
to tell the US President at the time (Nixon) to FOAD.
>
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