The Toronto Star reports, “The year ahead could be littered with as many as 14 fresh pieces of Buy American legislation as Washington readies to crunch a ($3.8 trillion) budget built for hard times, a senior Canadian trade adviser warns.”
“The fallout from Buy America provisions in 2009’s $787 billion stimulus package dominated Canada-U.S. dialogue for a year.”
“Rumours continue to circulate of negotiations approaching a possible breakthrough, with some analysts suggesting President Barack Obama may be poised to issue an executive order that would treat entire swathes of the Canadian economy as American. The move would exempt some Canadian sectors on the premise the supply chains are so entwined as to be inseparable. But the past two weeks have seen the emergence of the Inward Obama, as the White House undergoes an abrupt course-correction to place job creation foremost among a list of new domestic priorities.”
“Barring a breakthrough by Canada-U.S. negotiators, Buy American language already exists in the House version of a new U.S. jobs stimulus package, which Obama asked Congress to deliver to his desk for signing as quickly as possible during last week’s State of the Union address.”
“Canadian diplomats and politicians have deployed regularly to agitate against protectionism both in Washington and at the state and local level.”
The full article is at http://www.thestar.com/mobile/news/world/article/758526–jobs-u-s-voters-driving-decisions.
The Council of Canadians opposes the Canada-US procurement deal now being negotiated. For more details, please go to http://canadians.org/action/2009/05-Oct-09.html.
