Re: Jobs (or the lack of....)

[Neil Palmer <neilp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steven said:
"For years, the Australian Government has been trying to set up a free
Trade deal with the US"

Some friendly advice - don't waste your time.  Canada has had one with the
US for years, yet the US constantly imposes tariffs for protectionist
reasons, even on the same products they have been defeated on at the
tribunal &/or W.T.O. several times !  (Softwood Lumber being the most
recent example).  It's only "free trade" when it suits the US government
(and those special interest groups who lobby, or contribute generously to
political campaigns).  Yet if Canada dared impose say a 50% export tax on
natural gas in retaliation I'm sure we'd see US military exercises north
of the world's "longest undefended border" pretty quickly.  (Be warned
however, we have a secret weapon of Mass hearing Destruction - we'd send
Celine Dion down on the next flight to Washington.)  ;-)

Yes - a little recognition that Canadian troops in Afghanistan weren't the
enemy firing rifles at F16's would have been nice too.  We don't have that
many, we can't afford to lose them.

...Neil (speaking for myself only - well, actually probably for several
million other Canadians too, but NOT my employer)





steven.ryan@denso.com.au


        To:     midrange-l@midrange.com
        cc:
        Subject:        Re: Jobs (or the lack of....)



Jon

It's good to see someone who recognises that the US is not just a victim
in
international trade.


As an Australian, it's been fascinating watching all this chest beating
about how tough the poor US has it in the 'level playing field' of trade.
Especially given the US has just pumped up Steel Tariffs (that keep out
Australian Steel), imposed quotas on Lamb (that keep out Australian Meat)
and Sugar (that keep out Australian Sugar).  That's not including the
massive subsidies that the Government pays to various industries, such as
Agriculture, that mean our products get lower prices in other parts of the
world as we try to compete agaist discounted US products.

 There are many products where access to the US market is restricted or
controlled by Tariffs and Quotas.  For example, a couple of years ago the
US banned Australia's largest car seat manufacturer from exporting to the
US after US firms complained they couldn't compete on price.

It's got to the point now that a number of Australian companies, including
our largest construction materials supplier,  are relocating their head
offices to the US so they can get around the US's restrictions.

Australia is no third world, cheap labour, slack environmental country
either.  Our rules and regulations are comparable with the US.

For years, the Australian Government has been trying to set up a free
Trade
deal with the US, but successive US governments have stopped this, because
(on average), US tariffs on goods are 5 times that which Australia imposes
(20% vs 4%), and so the US will be more affected if they REALLY had to
compete on a 'level playing field'.


As to the gentleman who buys US because of his ancestor's war records,
Australia was there with you in World War 2, and Korea, and Vietnam, and
the Gulf War.  We also have troops with you in Afghanistan (as have the
British and Canadians).  A little recognition of that would be nice, you
know!




                    "Jon Paris"
                    <Jon.Paris@Partner4        To:
<midrange-l@midrange.com>
                    00.com>                    cc:
                    Sent by:                   Subject:     Jobs (or the
lack of....)






 >> I'm all for free trade. Just make the rules equal.

You know Paul the US is a _long_ way from the virgins you would like to
paint them.  US protectionism is amongst the worst in the world.  Your
government have just done a good job of convincing you that the subsidies
you give "don't count".  Try convincing anyone in the aerospace industry
that the US allows them to play on a level playing field.  The only
companies that survive are the ones that "cheat" i.e. Airbus industries
and
Embraer (sp?) the Brazilian company.  Or the thousands recently thrown out
of work in the Canadian lumber industry.

The world is changing - as has already been pointed out - all the time we
value price above all .......

Jon Paris
Partner400