U.S.
President Donald Trump hadn't said much about Canada's long-running
dispute with softwood lumber until last Thursday. He was supposed to be
talking about steel when, with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (2nd from
left) standing at his side, he lumped lumber in with things he said were
making NAFTA "a disaster." (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)
U.S.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stood beside Donald Trump as the U.S.
president called Canada's actions against American trade interests "a
disgrace."
"That also includes what's happening along our northern
border states with Canada, having to do with lumber and timber," he
said, a vague snark that swivelled heads on both sides of the border.
The
testy trade in two-by-fours wasn't expected to be raised until
this Tuesday, when Ross's department is expected to levy countervailing
duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
It's
the first of two much-anticipated decisions. The second,
on anti-dumping duties, was delayed to June 23 at the request of the
U.S. Lumber Coalition, an extension the Canadian side had expected.
The
powerful lobby group petitioned the American government in November,
arguing U.S. producers and workers are injured by subsidized imports
from north of the border.
Most of Canada's lumber comes from Crown
lands, which governments manage. However, Canada contends its pricing
is not artificially low: Crown timber auctions are designed to
reflect market rates.
A final, combined duty rate won't be set
until November. The U.S. International Trade Commission will confirm it
in January 2018. The Canadian government won't be able to appeal until
the entire process is complete.
Preliminary duties: how damaging?
Canada's lumber companies are bracing themselves for a financial hit in the meantime.
Some analysts are predicting countervailing duties of 10-15 per cent and anti-dumping duties of 20-30 per cent.
For comparison: the combined duties prior to the last softwood lumber agreement in 2006 were about 27 per cent.
Are the analysts right?
"There
are so many things that are variable. I'm not sure how they could
actually put together a calculation. Plus there are known unknowns for
how they can gin up the duty rate," said Susan Yurkovich, the president
of the Vancouver-based Council of Forest Industries.
"If it was
based on facts and solid evidence, then there would be no duty, right?"
she said. "It's what's going to be in the make-believe minds of the
department of commerce.
"Whatever
the final duty rate is, we will begin the appeal as soon as that's
posted," Yurkovich said. "The full impact is not going to be felt until
we start paying the combined duties next year."
Former
cabinet minister David Emerson, left, who helped negotiate the last
softwood lumber deal, is now B.C. Premier Christy Clark's trade envoy,
trying to sort out the file once again to Canada's advantage. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
Punishing Canada's industry too aggressively could be risky for Trump.
"A
lot of the people that voted for him are going to be negatively
impacted when tariffs are placed on Canadian
lumber," said Naomi Christensen, a senior policy analyst with the Canada
West Foundation.
Trump may champion the American dream, but
research from the U.S. homebuilders association found that for every
$1,000 increase in house prices (due to higher lumber costs), 153,000
families are priced out of purchasing a home.
The same research
suggests a 25 per cent lumber duty could cost 8,000 construction jobs.
Other types of manufacturing could also be hurt: Canadian lumber is used
for everything from pallets to mattresses (bed frames made of wood from
cooler climates are, apparently, less prone to squeak.)
U.S.
timber producers may have higher sales in the short-term, but over the
long-term, builders may switch to cheaper materials, Christensen said,
cutting everyone's demand.
"It's really all very intertangled,"
she said. "Unfortunately, the lumber lobby is very loud. A lot of the
time the consumer voices in the U.S. aren't as vocal."
Less to fear now?
The
last lumber deal negotiated by the previous Conservative government
expired in 2015. A one-year litigation standstill prevented the U.S.
lobby from petitioning for new duties until last fall.
"This
is an important sector," Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said
Friday in Washington. "You'll see from all of us a continued focus on
this issue."
As Trump blasted away last week, Trade Minister
François-Philippe Champagne left for China, to promote Canadian wood in
Canada's largest alternative market.
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and even Mexico could pick up more slack if American sales slip.
Both financially and strategically, Canada's industry is in a better place now than a decade ago.
Large Canadian companies have expanded into the U.S., so their overall balance sheets won't be so badly hit.
With
U.S. housing starts on a bit of a march and the Canadian dollar
relatively low, demand has been strong and may remain so, even after
duties are paid.
But Tuesday's decision may still burn: duties may
be retroactive for up to 90 days. Price hikes after the fact can be
hard to swallow.
Canada's timber supply also isn't what it once was, following infestations and forest fires.
Tied up in NAFTA targeting
Smaller companies, particularly those in Eastern Canada (far from Asian shipping ports), need American customers.
Particularly
troubling this time: the Americans haven't exempted the Atlantic
provinces, where timber is mostly harvested on private land.
The Canadian industry has also been fighting on a second front.
Earlier
this month, a NAFTA review panel ruled that U.S. tariffs should be
lowered or dropped for several Canadian mills that manufacture the kind
of glossy paper used in magazines or catalogues.
Softwood lumber isn't part of the North American Free Trade Agreement as it stands.
That didn't stop Trump from framing it as part of the "trading disaster" he's going to renegotiate or scrap. What could he have meant, then?
Dispute
settlement provisions included in NAFTA's Chapter 19 allow Canada
to appeal U.S. lumber duties to both a NAFTA review panel and the World
Trade Organization.
The last
softwood lumber deal set tariffs and market access limits — offering not
free trade, but managed trade, for a limited time only.
"I hope
the federal government is thinking: what win can we give the U.S. to
include softwood in NAFTA?" Christensen said. "If we don't have this
happening every decade or so, that would be beneficial."
Janyce
McGregor joined the CBC's parliamentary bureau in 2001, after starting
her career with TVOntario's Studio 2. Her public broadcaster "hat trick"
includes casual stints as a news and current affairs producer with the
BBC's World Service in London. After two decades of producing roles,
she's now a senior reporter filing for CBC Online, Radio and Television.
News tips: Janyce.McGregor@cbc.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: Premier Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:02:21 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: [PROBABLE-SPAM] Attn Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. I just called about Softwood Tariffs To: David Amos
Thank you for your email to Premier McNeil.
This is an automatic confirmation your email has been received.
Warmest Regards,
Premier's Correspondence Unit
For the Public record these are the documents I attached to my email about Softwood Tariffs .
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. Secretary of Commerce and "King of Bankruptcy" C/o Office of Public Affairs 202-482-4883 publicaffairs@doc.gov
The documents hereto attached to and from Arnold & Porter and others should refresh the memories of your Canadian clients and my Yankee opponents as well.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:18:29 -0400 Subject: I just called about Softwood Tariffs To: dkoschik@whitecase.com, vdesantis@whitecase.com Cc: "David.Raymond.Amos"
J.D. Irving Ltd. had advantage in fighting for lower tariff, says Roger Melanson Irving denies advantage over other companies because of operation in Maine By Jacques Poitras, CBC News Posted: Apr 26, 2017 6:03 PM A
"The company uses a top Washington law firm, White and Case, that specializes in international trade."
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:41:14 -0400 Subject: Fwd: FYI I called Mr Stillwell then I listened to the Green Meanie David Coon on CBC yapping about the Maritime Lumber Bureau and I called them too To: duane.woods@chaleursawmills.ca, derrickrussell@nb.aibn.com, peterdegraaf@xplornet.ca, delfor@nbnet.nb.ca, devonlumber@devonlumber.ca, joel.maclaggan@eacantimber.ca, michael.godin@fornebulumber.com, jean@goguenlumber.com, sales@langevinfp.com Cc: "David.Raymond.Amos" , mdcohen212@gmail.com
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:16:56 -0400 Subject: FYI I called Mr Stillwell then I listened to the Green Meanie David Coon on CBC yapping about the Maritime Lumber Bureau and I called them too To: Bill.Casey@parl.gc.ca, kmerriam@mlb.ca, Premier , premier@gov.bc.ca, blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca, bostn@international.gc.ca, Davidc.Coon@gmail.com, David.Coon@gnb.ca, Matt.DeCourcey@parl.gc.ca, terry.seguin@cbc.ca, keith.mary@jdirving.com, pfolkins@snbwc.ca, brian.gallant@gnb.ca, rick.doucet@gnb.ca, woodlot@nbnet.nb.ca, nsfpmb@nbnet.nb.ca, odvdm@nbnet.nb.ca, info@cvwpa.ca, Bruce.Northrup@gnb.ca Cc: "David.Raymond.Amos" , william.amos@parl.gc.ca, Steven.MacKinnon@parl.gc.ca, Alaina.Lockhart@parl.gc.ca
Maritime Lumber Bureau P.O. Box 459 Amherst, Nova Scotia B4H 4A1 Phone: 902.667.3889
Stillwell didn't know me from Adam and didn't much care and disagreed with me about Trump's actions. So I told him to cantact the Maritime Lumber Bureau because they have had my documents since 2005 and they and the Feds are the ones who dropped the ball dealing with Trump about softwood tariffs. It was not all Gallant's fault this time but a lot of the blame can be shouldered by Blaine Higg's and his old buddy David Alward who is now our top Fed in Beantown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7c4VjtY3-M
Maritime Lumber Bureau David Amos 66 views REPublished on Apr 4, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Ir55k6kMY
Maritime Lumber Bureau 2 David Amos REPublished on Apr 4, 2013
Tuesday, 14 February 2017 RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I just got off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why does he lie to me after all this time???
---------- Original message ---------- From: David Amos Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:51:14 -0400 Subject: RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I just got off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why does he lie to me after all this time??? To: president , mdcohen212@gmail.com, pm , Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.ca, MulcaT , Jean-Yves.Duclos@parl.gc.ca, B.English@ministers.govt.nz, Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au, pminvites@pmc.gov.au, mayt@parliament.uk, press , "Andrew.Bailey" , fin.financepublic-financepublique.fin@canada.ca, newsroom , "CNN.Viewer.Communications.Management" , news-tips , lionel Cc: David Amos , elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "justin.ling@vice.com, elizabeththompson" , djtjr , "Bill.Morneau" , postur , stephen.kimber@ukings.ca, "steve.murphy" , "Jacques.Poitras" , oldmaison , andre
---------- Original message ---------- From: Michael Cohen Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:14 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just called and left a message for you To: David Amos
Effective January 20, 2017, I have accepted the role as personal counsel to President Donald J. Trump. All future emails should be directed to mdcohen212@gmail.com and all future calls should be directed to 646-853-0114. ________________________________ This communication is from The Trump Organization or an affiliate thereof and is not sent on behalf of any other individual or entity. This email may contain information that is confidential and/or proprietary. Such information may not be read, disclosed, used, copied, distributed or disseminated except (1) for use by the intended recipient or (2) as expressly authorized by the sender. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and promptly notify the sender. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be received, secure or error-free as emails could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late, incomplete, contain viruses or otherwise. The Trump Organization and its affiliates do not guarantee that all emails will be read and do not accept liability for any errors or omissions in emails. Any views or opinions presented in any email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Trump Organization or any of its affiliates.Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Finance Public / Finance Publique (FIN)" Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:05:00 +0000 Subject: RE: Yo President Trump RE the Federal Court of Canada File No T-1557-15 lets see how the media people do with news that is NOT FAKE To: David Amos
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos commentaires.
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/
Thursday, 27 April 2017
YO Jean-Pierre Blais the Smiling Bastards in Google had my old Faithful Motomaniac333 deleted today Right after I sent an email to Dick Tracy and the FEDS
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Gallant, Premier Brian (PO/CPM)" Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:32:01 +0000 Subject: RE: YO Jean-Pierre Blais the Smilling Bastards in Google had my old Faithfull Motomaniac333 deleted today Right after I sent an email to Dick Tracy and the FEDS To: David Amos
Thank you for writing to the Premier of New Brunswick. Please be assured that your email will be reviewed.
If this is a media request, please forward your email to media-medias@gnb.ca. Thank you!
Monday, 6 February 2017 Yo Chucky Leblanc RE latest JDI lawsuit Here is scoop for ya the media won't touch BTW I called your old pal Jeannot Volpe at (506) 737 4436 and left voicemail just so he can't say I talked behind his back N'esy Pas?
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Gallant, Premier Brian (PO/CPM)" Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2017 16:10:07 +0000 Subject: RE: Yo Chucky Leblanc RE latest JDI lawsuit Here is scoop for ya the media won't touch BTW I called your old pal Jeannot Volpe at (506) 737 4436 and left voicemail just so he can't say I talked behind his back N'esy Pas? To: David Amos
Thank you for writing to the Premier of New Brunswick. Please be assured that your email will be reviewed and if a response is requested, it will be forthcoming.
Nous vous remercions d’avoir communiqué avec le premier ministre du Nouveau-Brunswick. Soyez assuré(e) que votre courriel sera examiné et qu’une réponse vous parviendra à sa demande.
Earlier this week, the U.S. administration of Donald Trump
announced tariffs of almost 20 per cent on softwood lumber from New
Brunswick. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)
Back in January, Danny Stillwell started to get the feeling
the United States would slap big duties on his eastern white cedar
shipments to Maine.
This week, the U.S. announced its new tariffs on softwood lumber, and
rather than pay thousands of dollars per load shipped across the
border, Stillwell prepared to close his sawmill, Hainesville Sawmill
Ltd., northwest of Fredericton.
Starting next week, six employees at the sawmill in Middle Hainesville will be out of a job for at least six months.
"I was pretty sure it was coming, probably 99 per cent sure it was coming," Stillwell said in an interview.
Tariffs of almost 20 per cent were announced for all New Brunswick lumber producers with the exception of J.D. Irving Ltd.
For decades, the U.S. lumber industry has argued that because most
Canadian timber is harvested on Crown land, the way provincial
governments manage and set prices means cheaper lumber.
Stillwell, who has been in the industry 10 years, said 100 per cent
of the rough cedar lumber that he's purchased is private wood, which is
why he feels he shouldn't be targeted for duties.
'I could live with three per cent, same as Irving, but I can't deal with 20 per cent.'
-Danny Stillwell,
He called the wood a niche product and said the Maine business that
buys from him is going to be affected by the sawmill's closure.
"They really need the product that I deliver in Maine," Stillwell
said. "They're going to be hurting in the months ahead because this is
their busy fencing season, their busy log home season.
The province's largest forestry company, J.D. Irving Ltd., managed to
secure a lower tariff rate of three per cent after submitting thousands
of pages of documents to the U.S. Commerce Department to support its
case.
"With Commerce being such a large organization, they really don't care about a small operator like myself," Stillwell said.
"I could live with three per cent, same as Irving, but I can't deal with 20 per cent."
A wait and see approach
At the beginning of March, the New Brunswick sawmill stopped
purchasing logs. Stillwell said he's been busy trying to clear his
inventory.
"I'm shutting down on my terms," he said. "I could keep going and bleed the company dry, [but] that's not my intention."
The 65-year-old is hopeful, however, that negotiations between
Canadians and the U.S. will eliminate or substantially lower the tariff
and that his company will be up and running again in six months.
"Everybody would like to see a zero rate for the Maritimes or at least down to the three per cent that Irvings are at," he said.
'Claims unfounded'
Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey, the parliamentary secretary to the
minister of foreign affairs, said there is no way the U.S. can make an
argument that New Brunswick is subsidizing its forestry industry.
Fredericton MP, Matt DeCourcey says New Brunswick should be excluded from tariffs on softwood lumber. (CBC)
"It is our view that the claims they made this week are baseless and unfounded," he said.
DeCourcey said government is working for an exclusion from the
tariffs and has been speaking with sawmills across the province, looking
for financial options to aid communities that are going to feel the
impact.
"It's the view of the federal government, shared by the provincial
government, that that exclusion should still be in place, that the
industry is not unfairly subsidized in our province, and that the system
in our province is not fundamentally different from that of our
neighbouring provinces.
"Nor fundamentally different from other provinces across the country."
YESTERDAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeo0CfQd8DQ
Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey sits down with Blogger to debate a few issues!!!! Charles Leblanc Published on Apr 27, 2017
Thursday, September 29, 2005 SUSSEX - GOLD FOUND AND BERNARD LORD'S OPINION!!!!
Raising a Little Hell- Lively Debate Provokes Crowd
By Erin Hatfield
"If you don't like what you got, why don't you change it? If your world is all screwed up, rearrange it."
The 1979 Trooper song Raise a Little Hell blared on the speakers at the 8th Hussars Sports Center Friday evening as people filed in to watch the Fundy candidates debate the issues. It was an accurate, if unofficial, theme song for the debate.
The crowd of over 200 spectators was dwarfed by the huge arena, but as they chose their seats, it was clear the battle lines were drawn. Supporters of Conservative candidate Rob Moore naturally took the blue chairs on the right of the rink floor while John Herron's Liberalswent left. There were splashes of orange, supporters of NDP Pat Hanratty, mixed throughout. Perhaps the loudest applause came from a row towards the back, where supporters of independent candidate David Amos sat.
The debate was moderated by Leo Melanson of CJCW Radio and was organized by the Sussex Valley Jaycees. Candidates wereasked a barrage of questions bypanelists Gisele McKnight of the Kings County Record and Lisa Spencer of CJCW.
Staying true to party platforms for the most part, candidates responded to questions about the gun registry, same sex marriage, the exodus of young people from the Maritimes and regulated gas prices. Herron and Moore were clear competitors,constantly challenging each other on their answers and criticizing eachothers’ party leaders. Hanratty flew under the radar, giving short, concise responses to the questions while Amos provided some food for thought and a bit of comic relief with quirky answers. "I was raised with a gun," Amos said in response to the question of thenational gun registry. "Nobody's getting mine and I'm not paying 10 cents for it."
Herron, a Progressive Conservative MP turned Liberal, veered from his party'splatform with regard to gun control. "It was ill advised but well intentioned," Herron said. "No matter what side of the house I am on, I'm voting against it." Pat Hanratty agreed there were better places for the gun registry dollars to be spent.Recreational hunters shouldn't have been penalized by this gun registry," he said.
The gun registry issues provoked the tempers of Herron and Moore. At one point Herron got out of his seat and threw a piece of paper in front of Moore. "Read that," Herron said to Moore, referring to the voting record of Conservative Party leader Steven Harper. According to Herron, Harper voted in favour of the registry on the first and second readings of the bill in 1995. "He voted against it when it counted, at final count," Moore said. "We needa government with courage to register sex offenders rather than register the property of law abiding citizens."
The crowd was vocal throughout the evening, with white haired men and women heckling from the Conservative side. "Shut up John," one woman yelled. "How can you talk about selling out?" a man yelled whenHerron spoke about his fear that the Conservatives are selling farmers out.
Although the Liberal side was less vocal, Kings East MLA Leroy Armstrong weighed in at one point. "You’re out of touch," Armstrong yelled to Moore from the crowd when the debate turned to the cost of post-secondary education. Later in the evening Amos challenged Armstrong to a public debate of their own. "Talk is cheap. Any time, anyplace," Armstrong responded.
As the crowd made its way out of the building following the debate, candidates worked the room. They shook hands with well-wishers and fielded questions from spectators-all part of the decision-making process for the June 28 vote.
Cutline – David Amos, independent candidate in Fundy, with some of his favourite possessions—motorcycles.
McKnight/KCR
The Unconventional Candidate
David Amos Isn’t Campaigning For Your Vote, But….
By Gisele McKnight
FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos.
The independent candidate lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife and two children, but his place of residence does not stop him from running for office in Canada.
One has only to be at least 18, a Canadian citizen and not be in jail to meet Elections Canada requirements.
When it came time to launch his political crusade, Amos chose his favourite place to do so—Fundy.
Amos, 52, is running for political office because of his dissatisfaction with politicians.
"I’ve become aware of much corruption involving our two countries," he said. "The only way to fix corruption is in the political forum."
The journey that eventually led Amos to politics began in Sussex in 1987. He woke up one morning disillusioned with life and decided he needed to change his life.
"I lost my faith in mankind," he said. "People go through that sometimes in midlife."
So Amos, who’d lived in Sussex since 1973, closed his Four Corners motorcycle shop, paid his bills and hit the road with Annie, his 1952 Panhead motorcycle.
"Annie and I rode around for awhile (three years, to be exact) experiencing the milk of human kindness," he said. "This is how you renew your faith in mankind – you help anyone you can, you never ask for anything, but you take what they offer."
For those three years, they offered food, a place to sleep, odd jobs and conversation all over North America.
Since he and Annie stopped wandering, he has married, fathered a son and a daughter and become a house-husband – Mr. Mom, as he calls himself.
He also describes himself in far more colourful terms—a motorcyclist rather than a biker, a "fun-loving, free-thinking, pig-headed individual," a "pissed-off Maritimer" rather than an activist, a proud Canadian and a "wild colonial boy."
Ironically, the man who is running for office has never voted in his life.
"But I have no right to criticize unless I offer my name," he said. "It’s alright to bitch in the kitchen, but can you walk the walk?"
Amos has no intention of actively campaigning.
"I didn’t appreciate it when they (politicians) pounded on my door interrupting my dinner," he said. "If people are interested, they can call me. I’m not going to drive my opinions down their throats."
And he has no campaign budget, nor does he want one.
"I won’t take any donations," he said. "Just try to give me some. It’s not about money. It goes against what I’m fighting about."
What he’s fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood, the exploitation of the Maritimes’ gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to name a few.
"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing, farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I’m death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it (NAFTA) out the window.
NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement which allows an easier flow of goods between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Amos disagrees with the idea that a vote for him is a wasted vote.
"There are no wasted votes," he said. "I want people like me, especially young people, to pay attention and exercise their right. Don’t necessarily vote for me, but vote."
Although…if you’re going to vote anyway, Amos would be happy to have your X by his name.
"I want people to go into that voting booth, see my name, laugh and say, ‘what the hell.’"
----- Original Message ----- From: David Amos To: Sgro.J@parl.gc.ca ; legerv@sen.parl.gc.ca ; trenhm@sen.parl.gc.ca ; ringup@sen.parl.gc.ca ; losier@sen.parl.gc.ca ; Thibault.L@parl.gc.ca ; Poirier-Rivard.D@parl.gc.ca ; Picard.P@parl.gc.ca ; Lavallee.C@parl.gc.ca ; Guay.M@parl.gc.ca ; Gagnon.C@parl.gc.ca ; Faille.M@parl.gc.ca ; Deschamps.J@parl.gc.ca ; Demers.N@parl.gc.ca ; Brunelle.P@parl.gc.ca ; Bourgeois.D@parl.gc.ca ; Bonsant.F@parl.gc.ca ; oec-bce@parl.gc.ca Cc: buckley@pol.state.ma.us ; steve@djflynn.com ; ombud@globe.com ; paul@djflynn.com ; dan@djflynn.com ; letter@globe.com ; publicrelations@cubanmission.com ; rusun@un.int ; france-presse@un.int ; uk@un.int ; contact@germany-un.org ; c103@c103.com ; general.info@thomson.com ; davidamos@bsn1.net Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 12:16 PM Subject: I bet a man named Mr. Tax who works for the Justice Dept doubts that he will
----- Original Message ----- From: David Amos To: scottmk@gov.ns.ca ; bev.harrison@gnb.ca ; ted.tax@justice.gc.ca ; graham@grahamsteele.ca ; hepstein@supercity.ns.ca ; deveaux.mla@ns.sympatico.ca ; ddexter@ns.sympatico.ca Cc: davidamos@bsn1.net ; BBACHRACH@bowditch.com ; adams_sammon@msn.com ; fbinhct@leo.gov ; david@lutz.nb.ca ; HeafeyS@cpc-cpp.gc.ca ; alicia.mcdonnell@state.ma.us ; Scott.A@parl.gc.ca Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 11:08 AM Subject: Hey Ted Tax as soon as I saw that the Lt. Gov had honoured you
I figured you would do nothing to rock the Queen's boat for reasons of job security. However even you and your pension funds rely on the ethics of the Yankees employed by the SEC in the USA. Perhaps you should side with me ASAP. My kids need a roof over their heads. I am not above suing anyone to get one including the Queen and the Holy See. However it is your job to prosecute criminals not mine. Correct?
"Ted Tax and the Department's Atlantic Regional Office (ARO) were honoured at a Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor's Awards Ceremony. Tax was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for "contribution to the Reserve Force by taking positive action to assist its employees who are reservists in maintaining their commitments to the Canadian Forces." Following September 11, 2001, there was an increase in the demand for military legal officers on operational deployments. Major John Smithers, a lawyer with the Tax Law Services Section of the ARO, was granted military leave to serve on an overseas mission." For the record this is the text of the cover letter sent to Baker etc. Lets see what Mr. Speaker has to say now. I believe he is an ex cop ain't he? Lets see if he remembers how to uphold the law. If not don't you think it is high time that the lawyers in the NDP give the crooked Conservative Goverment the Boot? Everybody knows they are lapdogs for George W. Bush. Why else did he make it a point to fly down and see them last year and snub Paul Martin and his cohorts in Ottawa?
July 31st, 2005
Lt. Gov. J. Léonce Bernard Lt. Gov. Myra A. Freeman Premier Pat G. Binns Premier John F. Hamm c/o Att. Gen. Mildred A. Dover c/o Att. Gen. Michael Baker Fourth Floor, Shaw Building, North Department of Justice 4th Floor 105 Rochford Street Room 5151 Terminal Road P.O. Box 2000 P.O. Box 7 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2L6
Lt. Gov. Norman L. Kwong Lt. Gov. Iona V. Campagnolo Premier Ralph Klein Premier Gordon Campbell c/o Att. Gen. Ron Stevens c/o Att. Gen. Wally Oppal 208 Legislature Building Stn Prov Govt PO Box 9044 9E210800 - 97 Avenue Parliament Buildings East Annex Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
RE: Public Corruption
Hey,
Apparently everybody wanted to play dumb about my concerns and allegations so that Humpty Dumpty Martin’s minority government would not fall and they could party hardy while the Queen was in Canada. As you all know months ago, I began faxing, emailing and calling the eight other Lt. Governors I had yet to cross paths with. I fully informed them of my indignation towards the Governor General Clarkson and two of her other Maritime Lieutenants Roberts and Chaisson before the latest wave of bad acting Yankees invaded my home in the USA without warrants or due process if law.
I made certain all of the provincial Attorney Generals and Premiers can never deny the fact that I tried to make them well aware of my concerns and allegations in order to make everybody should sit up and pay attention. Not one person from any of your offices ever responded in any fashion at all. You can be certain that I expected the deliberate ignorance. It is one of the oldest tricks in the book that lawyers employ in order to play their wicked game of see no evil, hear no evil speak no evil. I knew it would happen particularly after Nova Scotia’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner Merlin Nunn had blocked my emails before I had contacted you. I have no doubt it helped to relieve him of his ethical dilemma before the NS NDP decided what to do about their chance to unseat the Conservatives. I have no doubt whatsoever many lawyers in Canada were praying that the Suffolk County District Attorney would have me back in the loony bin by April 28th and that all your troubles would go away. I opted to let you all have your way and did not bother you anymore until the Queen had left our shores and Parliament quit for the summer. Now it is my turn to have some fun and raise a little Political Hell.
While the Queen, Clarkson and Martin where all having a grand old time on the Canadian dime my little Clan went through living hell down here. Trust me, lawyers need to learn some new tricks. Ignorance is no excuse to the law or me. Making some Canadian Attorney Generals and their political buddies show me their arses is child’s play to me after all that I have experienced in the last few years. If you doubt me ask Michael J. Bryant and Yvon Marcoux why I am so pissed at their bosses and the DHS. Then check my work for yourself. If the tag team of John Ashcroft and Tom Ridge could not intimidate me, believe me you people don’t have a prayer. Both of those dudes have quit their jobs but I am still standing and squaring off against their replacements now. If it were not for all the decent folks I know, the snotty ones like you would make me feel ashamed to be a Canadian. There is no shortage of lawyers. It is just that ethical ones that are rare birds, that’s all. You must know how easily the Canadian people can replace you with other lawyers if it becomes widely known how willing you are to ignore crime if it means some fancy dude may be compelled to suffer for his own wrongs.
The justice system is supposed to be self-policing. It should clean up its own act rather than trying to maintain a false mask of integrity for lawyers that are obviously criminals. It is way beyond my understanding why you people would choose to support the likes of Paul Martin, Adrienne Clarkson, T. Alex Hickman and Billy Matthews if you are not all as crooked as hell as well. The deliberate ignorance and double-talk employed by the wealthy few to dodge simple truths is absolutely offensive to ordinary people blessed with the rare attribute called common sense. Not all folks are like sheep.
Paul Martin’s latest tricks make for a very fine example of truly how bad things are. Even amidst wholesale scandals breaking out hell, west and crooked everywhere lawyers and politicians just close ranks and stand together as thick as the thieves they are. I stress tested the ethics of the ladies of the Bloc Quebecois and the Gomery Inquiry immediately after Martin’s carefully orchestrated little circus in Parliament on May 19th was a matter of history. Lets just say I was not surprised to not hear one peep in response from anyone other than to get a call from an unidentified and very nervous but cocky Yankee lawyer claiming that Tony Blair was mad at me.
Pursuant to my phone calls, emails and faxes please find enclosed as promised exactly the same hard copy of what I sent to the Canadian Ambassadors Allan Rock and Franky Boy McKenna and a couple of nasty FBI agents on May 12th just before an interesting event in front of our home in Milton. I have also included a copy of four letters I have received in response since then that you may find interesting to say the least. I also sent you a copy of a letter sent to a lady Ms. Condolezza Rice whom our former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney considers to be the most powerful woman in the world. The CD of the copy of police surveillance tape # 139 is served upon all the above named Attorney Generals as officers of the court in order that it may be properly investigated.
I will not bother you with the details of what I am sending to you byway of the certified US Mail because I will be serving identical material to many other Canadian Authorities in hand and tell them I gave this stuff to you first and enclose a copy of this letter. All that is important to me right now is that I secure proof that this mail was sent before I make my way back home to the Maritimes. However I will say I am also enclosing a great deal more material than what Allan Rock had received in the UN. Some of it is in fact the same material the two maritime lawyers, Rob Moore and Franky Boy McKenna in particular received, while I was up home running for Parliament last year. Things have changed greatly in the past year so I have also included a few recent items to spice things up for you. I am tired of trying to convince people employed in law enforcement to uphold the law. So all I will say for now is deal will your own conscience and be careful how you respond to this letter. If you do not respond. Rest assured I will do my best to sue you some day. Ignorance is no excuse to the law or me.
Veritas Vincit
David R. Amos 153 Alvin Ave Milton, MA. 02186
The enclosed letter from The Public Service Integrity Office, whose boss recently testified before the Gomery Inquiry and following quotes prove why I must speak out.
"Well what do you expect?" said Le Hir in reaction. "Anybody who had been involved in that kind of thing isn't going to admit readily, or willfully, to having participated." Asked why he's waited 10 years to come out with his allegations, Le Hir said he was "sworn to secrecy." "I'm breaking that oath, and the only way I could have been relieved by that oath was by a judge in a court saying, 'Mr. Lehir, I understand that you have made an oath of secrecy; and you're hereby relieved of that oath."
"Mr. Wallace added that police and the courts, not internal rules, are best-equipped to deal with bureaucrats who cross the line and break the law. But Judge Gomery did not appear satisfied. "It takes a major scandal to get the police involved," he said. "It is not in the nature of the public service to call in the police."
Everybody knows that in order to protect the rights and interests of my Clan and to sooth my own soul, I have proven many times over that all lawyers, law enforcement authorities, and politicians in Canada and the USA are not worthy of the public trust. I maintain that their first order of business is to protect the evil longstanding system they have created for their own benefit rather than the people they claim to serve. Call me a liar and put it in writing. I Double Dog Dare ya.
Baker got my material. So did everyone else. Only the Attorney General in Quecbec refused it. I bet our newest Governor General knows why. It is likely for the same reason she will not accept my emails. It should be obvious to anyone why I must sue the Crown.
USPS Track and Confirm
Label/Receipt Number: ED71 7170 440U S Detailed Results:
Delivered Abroad, August 05, 2005, 9:23 am, CANADA
At Foreign Delivery Unit, August 05, 2005, 8:10 am, CANADA
Out of Foreign Customs, August 04, 2005, 2:52 pm, CANADA
Into Foreign Customs, August 04, 2005, 2:22 pm, CANADA
Arrived Abroad, August 04, 2005, 2:22 pm, CANADA
International Dispatch, August 03, 2005, 10:28 am, KENNEDY AMC
Enroute, August 03, 2005, 9:08 am, JAMAICA, NY 11499
Acceptance, August 02, 2005, 10:32 am, QUINCY, MA 02169
Page 6 In accordance with the Department’s regulations, we are filing this submission electronically via ACCESS at http://access.trade.gov. Copies of this submission are being served today on parties as indicated in the attached certifi cate of service. If you have any questions or desire any additional information, please feel free to contact the undersigned.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Spencer S. Griffith Spencer S. Griffith Bernd G. Janzen Christopher T. Timura Kimberly M. Myers Cynthia Y. Liu Yujin K. McNamara Jared T. Cail Dallas A. Woodrum AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER &FELD LLP Counsel to the Government of British Columbia Tel +1 202.887.4575 sgriffith@akingump.com
On behalf of the Government of Alberta Lawrence A. Schneider, Esq. Arnold & Porter LLP 601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 Washington, DC Tel 202.942.5694 lawrence.schneider@apks.com
On behalf of the Conseil de l'Industrie forestiere du Quebec (CFIQ), the Ontario Forest Industries Association, Resolute FP Canada Inc. and Rene Bernard Inc. Elliot J. Feldman, Esq. Baker Hostetler LLP 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20036-5304 Tel 202.861.1679 efeldman@bakerlaw.com
On behalf of the Government of Ontario H. Deen Kaplan, Esq. Hogan Lovells US LLP 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 Tel 202 637 5799 deen.kaplan@hoganlovells.com
On behalf of the Government of Manitoba and Government of Saskatchewan Michele Sherman Davenport, Esq. Davenport & James PLLC 1101 30th Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20007 Tel 202 688 1040 msdavenport@djtradelaw.com
On behalf of the British Columbia Lumber Trade Council and its consitutent associations: the Coast Forest Products Association and the Council of Forest Industries, and their members Mark A. Moran, Esq. Steptoe & Johnson LLP 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 Tel 202 429 6292 mmoran@steptoe.com
On behalf of the Government of Quebec Matthew J. Clark, Esq. Arent Fox LLP 1717 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-5344 Tel 202 857 6066 matthew.clark@arentfox.com
On Behalf of the Government of Canada Matthew R. Nicely, Esq. Joanne E. Osendarp, Esq. Representatives of Government of Canada Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP 1775 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-2401 Tel 202 721 4750 matthew.nicely@hugheshubbard.com
On behalf of the Committee Overseeing Action for Lumber International Trade Investigations or Negotiations, which is comprised of: U.S. Lumber Coalition, Inc., Collum's Lumber Products, L.L.C., Hankins, Inc., Potlach Corporation, Rex Lumber Company, Seneca Sawmill Company, Sierra Pacific Industries, Stimson Lumber Company, Swanson Group, Weyerhaueser Company, the Carpenters Industrial Council, Giustina Land and Timber Company, and Sullivan Forestry Consultants, Inc. David A. Yocis, Esq. Picard Kentz & Rowe LLP 1750 K Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20006 Tel 202 331 5042 Email: dyocis@pkrllp.com
On behalf of West Fraser Mills Ltd. Donald Harrison, Esq. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 1050 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036-5306 Tel 202 955 8560 dharrison@gibsondunn.com
On behalf of the Government of Nova Scotia Thomas M. Beline, Esq. Cassidy Levy Kent (USA) LLP 2000 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 3000 Washington, DC 20006 Tel 202 567 2316 tbeline@cassidylevy.com
On behalf of Carrier Lumber Ltd. and Carrier Forest Products Ltd. Kristin H. Mowry, Esq. Mowry & Grimson, PLLC 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 810 Washington, DC 20015 Tel 202-688 3610 khm@mowrygrimson.com
On behalf of J.D. Irving, Limited Walter J. Spak, Esq. White & Case LLP 701 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 2005-3807 Tel 202 626 3606 E wspak@whitecase.com
On behalf of Canfor Corporation Donald B. Cameron, Esq. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP 1401 I Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202 216 4811 dcameron@mmmlaw.com
On behalf of the New Brunswick Lumber Producers ("NBLP") Chaleur Sawmills Association, Delco Forest Products Ltd., Fornebu Lumber Ltd., H.J. Crabbe & Sons Ltd., J.D. Irving Ltd., Marwood Lumber Ltd. and Twin Rivers Paper Company Inc. Richard L.A. Weiner, Esq. Sidley Austin LLP 1501 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202 736 8790 rweiner@sidley.com
On behalf of Tembec Inc. and Eacom Timber Corporation Yohai Baisburd, Esq. Dentons US LLP 1900 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-1102 Tel 202 408 3245 yohai.baisburd@dentons.com
On behalf of Terminal Forest Products Ltd. Joel R. Junker, Esq. Junker & Nakachi, P.C. 1191 Second Avenue Suite 1800 Seattle, WA 98101 Tel 206 621 7878 Joel.Junker@TradeLawCounsel.com
On behalf of the Government of New Brunswick William H. Barringer, Esq. Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 Tel 202 452 7332 wbarringer@curtis.com
On behalf of the Embassy of Canada Colin Bird Embassy of Canada 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001-2111
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Ross
Wilbur Louis Ross Jr. (born November 28, 1937) is an American investor and politician who is currently the 39th United States Secretary of Commerce, under the Trump Administration. Ross was confirmed by the Senate by a 72-27 vote to be the Commerce Secretary. He was a banker, known for restructuring failed companies in industries such as steel, coal, telecommunications, foreign investment and textiles. He specializes in leveraged buyouts and distressed businesses. As of February 2017, Forbes magazine has reported that Ross has a net worth of $2.5 billion.
Ross is known as the "King of Bankruptcy" for his experience in buying bankrupt companies, primarily in the manufacturing and steel industries, and later selling them for a large profit after operations improve
Wilbur Ross Fast Facts CNN Library Updated 1:29 PM ET, Wed March 22, 2017
Wilbur
Ross, US billionaire, chairman and chief executive officer of W L Ross
& Co. LLC, reacts during a Bloomberg Television interview in London
on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014.
Here's a look at the life of financier Wilbur L. Ross Jr.
Personal: Birth date: November 28, 1937
Birth place: Weehawken, New Jersey
Birth name: Wilbur Louis Ross Jr.
Father: Wilbur Louis Ross Sr., a lawyer
Mother: Agnes (O'Neill) Ross, a teacher
Marriages:
Hilary (Geary) Ross (October 9, 2004-present); Betsy (McCaughey) Ross
(December 7, 1995-August 2000, divorced); Judith (Nodine) Ross (May 26,
1961-October 1995, divorced)
Other Facts:
His nickname is "King of Bankruptcy," as he builds new companies from the assets of defaulted ones.
Ross
is known for investing in distressed companies in a wide range of
industries including auto parts, steel, textiles and financial services.
Timeline:
1976-2000 - Ross works for the investment bank Rothschild Inc. During his tenure, he becomes a top bankruptcy adviser.
January 1998 - Ross
pledges $2.25 million towards then-wife and Lt. Governor Betsy
McCaughey Ross's campaign for Governor of New York. He withdraws the
funding in September and files for divorce in November.
2000 - Purchases a small fund he started at Rothschild and opens his own private equity firm, WL Ross & Co. LLC.
2002 - Establishes
the International Steel Group (ISG), with himself as chairman of the
board, through a series of mergers and acquisitions starting with
Bethlehem Steel Corp.
December 2003 - ISG goes public.
2004 - Ross forms the International Coal Group (ICG) after purchasing the assets of Horizon Natural Resources in a bankruptcy auction.
October 2004 - Merges ISG with Mittal Steel for $4.5 billion.
January 2, 2006 - A West Virginia explosion at the Sago Mine,
operated by ICG subsidiary Wolf Run Mining Co., leads to the death of
12 miners. Families of the dead and Randal McCloy, the lone survivor,
sue ICG and WL Ross & Co. claiming negligence. All of the lawsuits
are settled by November 2011.
April 2010 - Purchases a 21% stake in Richard Branson's Virgin Money. In November 2011, Ross helps Branson fund a successful bid for the British bank Northern Rock.
August 2, 2010 - In
an interview with Charlie Rose, Ross states that he's fine with higher
taxes on the wealthy as long as the government puts the money to good
use.
June 2011 - Arch Coal, Inc. acquires International Coal Group (ICG) for $3.4 billion.
September 2011 -
W.L. Ross & Co. is among a group of five American and Canadian
investors who purchase a 34.9% stake in the Bank of Ireland. Ross' share
is 9.3%.
March 21, 2016 - Nexeo Solutions, a chemical distribution company, announces their merger agreement with W.L. Ross Holding Corporation. The merger is valued at $1,575 million.
November 30, 2016 - Ross announces in a CNBC interview that President-elect Donald Trump has asked him to serve as his commerce secretary. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.
February 27, 2017 - The Senate confirms Ross as commerce secretary by a 72-27vote. He is sworn in the next day.
J.D. Irving Ltd. had advantage in fighting for lower tariff, says Roger Melanson
Irving denies advantage over other companies because of operation in Maine
By Jacques Poitras, CBC NewsPosted: Apr 26, 2017 6:03 PM AT
New Brunswick Trade Minister Roger Melanson says the three
per cent tariff applied to J.D. Irving Ltd. sawmills shows other forest
companies should not be subject to a higher tariff.
(Radio-Canada/CBC)
New Brunswick's minister in charge of trade says J.D. Irving Ltd. had
advantages over other sawmill companies in the province that may have
helped it win a lower tariff on its softwood sales to the U.S.
For the second day, Roger Melanson insisted that the three per cent
tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Irving is a sign that
sawmill operators in the province are not unfairly subsidized.
But Melanson also acknowledged that Irving had the resources to make
its case in Washington — resources that smaller companies lack.
"Obviously, when you want to become investigated on a voluntary
basis, it's a significant investment," Melanson said, noting JDI
submitted more than 9,000 pages of documents to the U.S. government.
"It's a big task and some of our smaller players in the industry may not have the same capacity."
Other softwood companies in New Brunswick and across Canada have been
hit with a tariff of almost 20 per cent, a rate that industry
representatives say could put some of them out of business.
The tariff will be finalized later this year, but it will be collected at the border in the meantime.
'Important player'
J.D. Irving, with sawmills in Baker Brook, Saint-Léonard, Kedgwick,
Doaktown, Chipman and Sussex along with other operations, is the largest
player in New Brunswick's forest industry.
Melanson called the company "one of the most important players, of
course, but they're all very important in New Brunswick's industry."
Irving is the only company in Canada to have received such a low tariff.
Melanson said the three per cent rate applied to Irving shows that
New Brunswick forest companies in general should not be subject to a
higher tariff.
"I think it's a very good sign," he said. "We clearly read out of
this that the industry in New Brunswick is not being subsidized, and
this is the rate that needs to be applied, at a maximum, to all
industry."
J.D. Irving made the same argument on Tuesday.
But Melanson also acknowledged Irving is unique.
"It's obvious JDI has some elements that are different," he said when
a reporter asked if Irving's operations in Maine might have spared it
from a harsher tariff.
Works in conjunction
J.D. Irving Ltd.'s sawmill in Sussex is one of six the company operates in New Brunswick. (CBC)
Jerome Pelletier, JDI's vice-president of sawmill operations, said
Wednesday he doesn't believe the U.S.
Commerce Department's process was
influenced by the company's employment of hundreds of Americans.
"It's fact-based and I don't believe that having operations in the
state of Maine changed their conclusion," Pelletier told CBC's Information Morning Saint John.
In a separate trade case involving Irving paper exports to the U.S.,
Maine Gov. Paul LePage and three U.S. senators lobbied the Obama
administration in 2015 to not impose duties on the company's products,
citing possible job impacts in their states.
The company uses a top Washington law firm, White and Case, that specializes in international trade.
Pelletier said the company maintains an "open channel of
communication with different stakeholders in the United States … to
ensure we're represented properly" in Washington. He said the company
does this in conjunction with other New Brunswick forestry companies.
Forestry changes in 2014 made New Brunswick lumber a target in U.S.
Documents filed in Washington point to increased Crown timber allocation as unfair subsidy
By Jacques Poitras, CBC NewsPosted: Apr 28, 2017 6:00 AM AT
David Alward, shown with James Irving, president of J.D.
Irving Ltd., in May 2014, increased the amount of Crown wood available
to the forest industry in a new forest policy that came into effect that
year. (CBC)
The U.S. forest industry's attack on New Brunswick sawmills
was based in part on the forestry plan launched in 2014 by the previous
Progressive Conservative government, according to documents filed in
Washington.
While Gallant government officials insist nothing has changed in how
New Brunswick sawmills buy their wood, a coalition of U.S. companies has
argued that the Alward government's increase to Crown wood allocations
crossed the line.
PC Leader Blaine Higgs was part of the Alward cabinet that brought in the new forestry plan in 2014. (Legislative Assembly)
The increase in Crown wood and the decrease in private wood helped
put the province in U.S. crosshairs, with lumber producers in that
country arguing that growing sales from Crown land amounted to an unfair
"benefit" or subsidy.
PC Leader Blaine Higgs, a member of the cabinet that approved the
2014 forestry plan, wouldn't say this week if he regrets the forestry
plan, which boosted harvesting on Crown land by 21 per cent.
"The less we talk about this politically and such, the better," he said. "I don't want to make a political issue out of it."
19.88% tariff for most mills
It's not clear if the U.S. Commerce Department agreed with the
industry arguments, but this week its preliminary ruling put a 19.88
tariff to all New Brunswick sawmills selling wood into the U.S.
The only exception was J.D. Irving Ltd., which faces a three per cent tariff.
Trade Minister Roger Melanson said Irving's lower tariff shows that
the PC plan "didn't help to position New Brunswick companies that export
softwood lumber to the U.S."
Trade Minister Roger Melanson said the lower
tariff for J.D. Irving shows the 2014 forestry plan by the previous PC
government "didn't help" softwood exporters in New Brunswick.
Under previous softwood lumber agreements, New Brunswick and the
other Atlantic provinces were exempt from tariffs because they weren't
seen as subsidizing their mills in the same way as other provinces.
The filing last Nov. 25 by an industry group called the Committee
Overseeing Action for Lumber International Trade Investigations or
Negotiations argues that has changed, and that the Alward plan is
changing it even more.
It says Crown stumpage in New Brunswick was 41 per cent of all logs
in 2004, not enough to warrant tariffs, but that rose to 51 per cent by
2013.
And the 2014 forestry plan "can be expected to result in an even
higher share of New Brunswick timber coming from Crown land in future
years," it continued.
Private logs dwindle to 12%
The document says logs from private woodlots now account "for as
little as 12 per cent of the total softwood supply" in New Brunswick.
That share was "well within the range deemed problematic" that
triggered tariffs on other provinces in previous softwood disputes, the
filing says.
Compounding the problem is that the dominance of J.D. Irving Ltd. as
the largest buyer of wood and the Crown lands as the largest seller of
wood makes it hard to accurately measure a fair market price for wood,
the U.S. industry argues.
The petition singled out New Brunswick for tariffs among the Atlantic
provinces. It did not ask for tariffs on wood from Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.
Irving blamed by Coon
Green Party Leader David Coon is blaming that on J.D. Irving Ltd.,
accusing the company of abandoning other Maritime sawmills and "going it
alone" in the softwood case.
Green Party Leader David Coon said when J.D.
Irving Ltd., broke away from the Maritime Lumber Bureau, it exposed New
Brunswick's number for Crown wood supply to greater scrutiny by the
United States. (CBC)
Irving sought a voluntary investigation of its own sawmill businesses
by the U.S., Coon said, a move that ended the united front once
advanced by the Maritime Lumber Bureau.
The bureau represented all sawmills in the region for decades and
since 1983 repeatedly managed to persuade Washington to not impose
tariffs on mills here.
Coon said in the legislature that New Brunswick's high dependence on
wood from Crown lands had been obscured by region-wide numbers.
But when Irving "broke with the Maritime Lumber Bureau," it exposed
New Brunswick's numbers to greater scrutiny by the U.S., Coon said.
Melanson didn't respond directly to Coon's allegations.
"We've got to be really careful," he said, warning that saying the
wrong thing may make it harder for New Brunswick to get the U.S.
decision reversed.
Irving said earlier this week it doesn't want to see other mills hit
with a higher tariff because those mills often supply Irving mills with
chips, bark and other residue products.
The company did not respond to a request for comment on Coon's accusations Thursday.
Irving gained expertise
Donny Crabbe of H.J. Crabbe and Sons Ltd. in Bristol said Irving
likely used a lot of the expertise it gained in a recent trade fight
over paper exports to the U.S. to make its case on softwood.
"The Irvings had the opportunity to learn things the rest of us didn't have the chance to learn," he said.
Crabbe said he hopes Ottawa and the province will use the lower
Irving tariff to convince Washington that other sawmills aren't unfairly
subsidized either.
"It should bode well to prove that we are fair traders," he said.
Some of the filings in Washington show Irving was working with
several companies, including Crabbe's, as part of a group called the New
Brunswick Lumber Producers.
The group had a Washington law firm representing its interests.
Irving also had its own law firm representing its interests alone.
A final ruling by the Trump administration on the tariffs is due
later this year. In the meantime, the federal government says it will
try to negotiate a new softwood deal.
President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with steel
and aluminum executives in the Cabinet Room of the White House on
Thursday in Washington. Trump's announcement that he will impose stiff
tariffs on imported steel and aluminum has upended political alliances
on Capitol Hill. (The Associated Press)
1549 Comments
Glen Strathy
Never give the bully what he wants.
David Amos
@Glen Strathy Methinks the
Yankees should go home and learn to make do without exploiting our
natural resources and the poorly paid labour force in Mexico anymore
N'esy Pas?
Trump open to removing steel tariffs if he gets his way on NAFTA
If tariffs imposed, Canada will 'take responsive measures to defend our workers and our industry': Freeland
President
Donald Trump listens during a meeting with steel and aluminum
executives in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Thursday in
Washington. Trump's announcement that he will impose stiff tariffs on
imported steel and aluminum has upended political alliances on Capitol
Hill. (The Associated Press)
U.S.
President Donald Trump says he'll only exempt Canada from the tariffs
he has been threatening to impose on steel and aluminum imports if a
"new and fair" North American Free Trade Agreement is signed.
Calling
the trade pact a "disaster" that has pulled factories and jobs from the
U.S., Trump said the new tariffs would only be dropped as part of a
successful renegotiation of NAFTA. He called it disgraceful that past
presidents have not addressed trade issues that have cost the U.S.
hundreds of billions of dollars through a "very bad deal" with Canada
and Mexico.
"If we don't make a deal I'll terminate NAFTA, but If I
do make a deal which is fair to the workers and to the American people,
that would be, I would imagine, one of the points we'll negotiate, will
be tariffs on steel for Canada and for Mexico," he told reporters
during a photo op with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
As
the seventh round of NAFTA talks wrapped up in Mexico City today,
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said any updated NAFTA must
be good for all three countries — and called the tariff proposal
"absolutely unacceptable."
Speaking to reporters, Freeland said
she was unwilling to reveal what kind of trade response Canada will
offer to the tariffs — but confirmed there will be one.
"If
necessary, we would consider any section 232 action directed at Canada
to be totally unacceptable and in that event we would take responsive
measures to defend our workers and our industry," she said. Section 232
refers to a portion of a 1962 U.S. law that gives the president
authority to impose tariffs in the name of "national security."
Freeland's message to the US
March 5, 2018|
Duration 1:24
Freeland's message to the US
At the closing news conference, Freeland said "solid progress" has been made, but much work still lies ahead.
"This
seventh round was a round which showed some really solid progress
particularly on some of the bread and butter issues," Freeland later
told reporters. "We made progress in closing some important chapters and
on the harder issues ... There is certainly significant further work to
be done on NAFTA but we made some solid progress here in Mexico City
and we have a foundation upon which to build."
U.S. Trade
Representative Robert Lighthizer was less sanguine, warning that time is
running out for a deal and that, despite the hard work of officials,
negotiators have not made as much progress as he had hoped.
Of the 30 chapters to be signed, only six have been closed today, including three from this latest round.
Freeland later
told reporters that it is not unusual for trade negotiations to begin
with the closing of only a few chapters, because many other chapters are
being worked on. She insisted that progress is being made that will
come together closer to the end of the talks.
Tying steel tariffs to NAFTA deal
Lighthizer
also said the political climate could soon affect NAFTA negotiations. A
presidential race is set to begin in Mexico next month, and mid-term
elections in the U.S. and provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec
will be held this year.
"All of this complicates our work. I fear that the longer we proceed, the more political headwinds we will feel," he said.
Trump said the U.S. has been ripped off by every country around the world, regardless of whether they are "friend or enemy."
While
he did not show any signs of backing down or granting Canada an
exemption, Trump said he does not foresee a trade war on the horizon.
Earlier
Monday, the president took to Twitter to reiterate his view that NAFTA,
which is undergoing contentious renegotiations, is a job-loser for the United States.
"We
have large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada," he tweeted Monday
morning. "Tariffs on steel and aluminum will only come off if new [and]
fair NAFTA agreement is signed.
"Also Canada must
treat our farmers much better. Highly restrictive. Mexico must do much
more on stopping drugs from pouring into the U.S. They have not done
what needs to be done. Millions of people addicted and dying."
Last week, Trump
announced the imposition under the rarely-used 1962 law of a hefty
new 25 per cent tariff on imports of steel and a 10 per cent tariff for
aluminum, meant to boost U.S. manufacturers.
Canada has been seeking an exemption on the tariffs — a point Freeland mentioned again Monday.
"I
did feel given the seriousness of the matter, that although these are
separate negotiations and although ambassador Lighthizer is not the lead
minister on this issue, I felt it was important to raise it," she said.
"He was very responsive, he was very prepared to talk about it and I
think we had a good conversation."
On
Monday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Canada remains "firm" in its
opposition to the tariffs and will wait for official news from the
Trump administration before deciding how to react. But he said both
countries stand to lose economically if the proposed tariffs are
imposed.
Bad for business
"In fact we see it as a
disadvantage, a disadvantage for American businesses," Morneau told
reporters in Toronto at a post-budget event.
"We see a
disadvantage for Americans with potentially higher costs, we see a
disadvantage from a security standpoint as we see Canada as a staunch
ally of the United States, being integral to their supply chain."
Canada's
position also received support from U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who
said the tariff proposal poses risks to the economy.
"We are
extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging
the White House to not advance with this plan. The new tax reform law
has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those
gains," said AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, according to
Reuters.
Last
week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the tariff proposal
"absolutely unacceptable" and warned of a "significant disruption" in
the continental supply chain.
In 2017, the U.S. imported 26.9 million tonnes of steel, with 16 per cent of that coming from Canada.
A
Canadian government official, speaking on background, said Canada
believes any new tariffs should not apply to this country due to the
highly integrated nature of the North American steel market, and because
of the close co-operation between the two countries on defence issues.
Foreign
Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted that she spoke with Rep.
Kevin Brady, the Texan Republican who chairs the powerful ways and means
committee, about the trade relationship between the two countries.
Brady has been one of the more vocal Republican opponents of the blanket tariffs.
NAFTA talks continue
The
political leaders from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico who are overseeing
the negotiating process meet today as the seventh round
of NAFTA negotiations continue.
Plans are in the works to schedule an eighth round of talks in the U.S. in late March.
During the Sunday talk show rounds, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said some industries could get exemptions.
"There'll
be an exemption procedure for particular cases where we need to have
exemptions so business can move forward," Navarro said on CNN.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told NBC's Meet the Press that Trump could change his mind on the tariffs, but he didn't think he would.
Is Ontario ready to take on Trump over steel tariff threats?
March 5, 2018|
Duration 6:51
'Ontario is very hopeful that Canada can get the exemption,' says Minister of Economic Development Steven Del Duca.
With files from Catharine Tunney and Peter Zimonjic
Freeland's message to the US
'Ontario is very hopeful that Canada can get the exemption,' says Minister of Economic Development Steven Del Duca.