When 'Free Trade' Isn't Really Free: A Look at the Canadian Lumber Issue

摘要

Less than 100 years ago a forester from Europe sounded the alarm that the forests of the United States were threatened like never before. Today I'm sounding the alarm about a new threat to our forests. In the early 1900's the threat came from within--little reforestation and over harvesting Today, the threat is from our neighbor to the north--Canada. They are sending in lumber made from highly subsidized Canadian stumpage. We live in a time when the mantra of "free trade" permeates national economicpolicy While "free trade" sounds good these words have different meanings to different constituents. For Canadian lumber producers and the National Association of Homebuilders "free trade" means having unfettered access to U.S. markets regardless of unfair practices that give Canadian lumber an artificial advantage. In the United States, timber -- public and private--is sold in an open and competitive market to users who manufacture the wood into finished products. In Canada most standing timber is sold to manufacturers without competitive bids, at below-market prices, and often with a guaranteed suppry.