04/25/17

US v Canada — Canadian Softwood Lumber! Grudge Match

Wait a damn second, Big Red Car. Canadian softwood lumber? A grudge match? What? You got some ‘splaining to do, Big Red.

Big Red Car here on a grayish Tuesday. Still, on Earth as it is in Texas, y’all!

So President Donald J Trump has fired his first shot in the centuries old trade dispute between the US and Canada over the export of Canadian softwood lumber to the US, by imposing 90-day retroactive countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports of up to 24%. Hello, Canada!

Canadian US flags lumber

Everyone was expecting the trade wars to start with Mexico or China. Nope — Canada.

Game on, y’all. And, President Trump started it, just like he promised he would. [Promises made, promises kept.] Get some popcorn, a lemonade, and a seat.

This has been a sore spot for so long it is a sore spot within a sore spot.

First, let’s know this is a complex issue with a bunch of talking which  has gone on for so long it has bridged more than a dozen US administrations.

Let’s review the bidding, shall we?

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