The Americans feel they never subsidized anything in their life, and that we Canadians unfairly subsidize lumber exports to the US. They take us to the WTO, and lose everytime. We haven’t got our overpayments of US duty back yet though. The Europeans like to think they’re highminded and are the repository of all advanced social thinking, and so keep out Canadian exports because our Inuit kill seals, etc. The US buys overpriced military jets, as a way of subsidizing Boeing. The EU keeps Airbus running, well, just ‘cuz.

Puffery on both counts. I’m sure both the US and the EU have never done anything wrong themselves, beyond the usual over the top agricultural subsidies. Why no, never.

I’m looking forward to a WTO fight between the pair, in no small part to see what convoluted, ridiculous arguments both sides’ lawyers will dream up to advance arguments.

The WTO was dreamed up to make sure the little countries are always at a disadvantage of the big ‘uns. Basically a case of “don’t do as we do, do as we say”.

I say, if you don’t follow the rules baked into international agreements, may as well give ‘em all up, and slap tariffs on everything, just like the old days. That’ll solve things.

It’s like this financial G20 summit in Washington. Bush, in all his elemental glory, is insisting that there’s no need for world financial regulatory reform. Why it’s just fine. Our idiotic prime minister Harper is toeing the US line. I mean, if there’s nothing wrong with regulatory policy, why are we in this f*****g mess? Meanwhile in Canada, we have different stock market regulators for each province, which in this day and age is bullshit. So Harper’s one to talk.

Right now, everyone’s in the “it’s all your fault mode”, and the “let me adjust my blinkers so I can studiously avoid giving any credence to your argument mode.”

BS from start to finish. Just a lot of flailing about.

Hmmm, I could have sworn that it was Obama who was wholeheartedly supporting the D3 bailout whereas Bush was opposed in principle (or at least wants the Colombia FTA in return).

But anyway, my main point was, and remains, that it is simply laughable, nay absurd, for Europe to threaten or lecture the U.S. as regards industrial subsidies of any shape or size. From agriculture to airplanes, they’re ready to throw gov’t Euros at anything to gain an edge. Airbus was created and backed by European gov’ts for the sole purpose of burying Boeing.

For the B&B to sit back and say, “well you know those free-enterprise-loving Europeans got a good point there” is something I cannot let pass without comment.

For someone that is so black and white regarding a myriad of issues, Mr. Bush seems to be very gray regarding international law vis-à-vis financial matters.

At least Toyota has the Prius (affordable, reliable, and profitable) to show for their supposed “government investment”. I don’t think Detroit will make anything, except for more executive compensation.

The US has been on the forefront in the last 60 years requiring the world to open up their markets, cut down on tariffs, and let their own industries die in case US products where just better. No protectionism of local industries was allowed. And now, suddendly, when the D3 are going under, everything is different?

The US has already lost credibility on the human rights front due to Irak, Guantamano etc. It is losing the fight for free markets as well if it rescues the D3.