Canada Post has just issued its annual Lunar New Year stamp series, featuring a wide-eyed dragon that looks more surprised than menacing.
Coming after a year that saw a devastating earthquake in Japan, political upheaval in the Middle East, economic crisis in Europe, and the emergence of the "Occupy" movement, it is not hard to see why the dragon might be reluctant to take its turn in the lunar calendar.
As if the world did not have enough uncertainty to deal with, 2011 ended with the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, ushering a period of leadership transition in a perennially insecure regime that is armed to the teeth.
The United States is also going through a leadership transition -- in terms of its place in an increasingly multipolar world -- as well as domestically, as the presidential race dominates American politics and policy for the next 11 months. Recent statements by the Obama administration -- on the foreign policy "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region and on a defence strategy that is increasingly focused on China -- open a new chapter in the contest for influence in Asia.
China will also see leadership renewal in 2012, and while the contest is less public and more predictable, Chinese leadership hopefuls are susceptible to political posturing and populist actions, as are their counterparts in the United States. The risk of trade conflict has risen in the last year, and will likely continue to mount in an environment of sluggish world growth.
With Asia now prominently on the world's centre stage, the challenge of building relations with countries in the region has become much more than trade and investment promotion. For Canada, it means embedding Asia into business, educational, and community strategies and building long-term relationships with Asian counterparts that demonstrate Canada's commitment to be a serious player in the Asia-Pacific region.
It comes as welcome news therefore that Prime Minister Harper will visit Beijing next month. Harper should use the opportunity to signal his version of a "pivot" to Asia -- without the overtones of geopolitical positioning that invariably accompany U.S. foreign policy.
An excellent way to do so would be to propose a Free Trade Agreement with China. Coming on the heels of his statement of Ottawa's desire to join the U.S.-dominated Trans-Pacific Partnership (which China has so far been excluded from), a proposed economic partnership agreement with China would not only expand Canada's options but also demonstrate an awareness of the bigger game that is being played out in the region.
Such an announcement would also underscore and put substance behind the Prime Minister's recent comments about the need to diversify Canadian exports (especially oil and gas) to be less reliant on the U.S. market. Free trade talks with India are already underway and an FTA with Japan is being studied by both governments. Adding China to the list would be a major achievement -- and would require significant political commitment to get the deal done.
The First Day covers issued by Canada Post include a description of dragon years as "marked by innovation, exploration and risk, ultimately culminating in achievement on a grand scale." With his trip to Beijing scheduled shortly after the start of the Lunar New Year, Harper should travel with precisely the level of ambition expected of a dragon year.
Follow Yuen Pau Woo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@yuenpauwoo
offers of 55% wage cutbacks, the decreasing balance of trade which is tied in with importation of
goods produced with starvation wages. These wages are paid in countries that have a much
reduced level of social service. We have those who want to deplete our country of those resources
which aid industrial growth and development - wanting to send those resources to the countries
which are manufacturing the cheap goods. Canadian middle class can kiss their economic futures
goodbye while the 1% puts the rest of our country into economic servitude. It would be better for
governments to use our resources to help the 99% and to develop a game plan that will benefit us all.
You wouldn't call the Aussies 3rd world, would you? Truck driver jobs go wanting in West Australia at $200,000 a year, because of the resource boom. Now that is foresight in government policy.
"Dig dirt, export, repeat" has served the Aussies well. Canada can have double its current per capita income and GDP in 5 years, if it follows Australia's example.
Australia is a shining example of its people living well off of selling dirt. $200,000 truck driver jobs, much like the demand for oil rig operators in Edmonton, go unfilled. You wouldn't call the Aussies 3rd world, would you?
Neither do resources that are gone.
By China's own admission, they have rendered 11% of all their domestic airable land unusablle for agricultural purposes through pollution and over-.development
That being said. I have to admitt, some admiration for the Chinese governments ability to think and plan, long-term.
The question you have to ask yourself is "where do we fit into the obvious disparity between the realities of unrestrained growth and shrinking resources".
When you consider the Chinese governments ability to think and plan long term.
"Fit" is a good question. Americans eat and waste enough enough food, per capita, to feed 10 in the poorer nations. As a result many are OBESE, and fit is always a problem.
Americans even turn good, edible corn into something you burn in cars, borrowing billions of dollars that you do not have to subsidize that process (because it is EXTRAVAGANT and energy wasting to turn food into fuel).
Americans use 6 times as much energy per year (10381W) compared to China (1516W), even as manufacturing is a much smaller fraction of the economy (selling derivatives over the computer uses much less energy than forging steel).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_energy_consumption_per_capita
Yes, Americans should really think of where they and their country fit. Cutting waste would be a good start.
All the points you made though are completly valid IMO.
(by the way I'm a Canadian)
read more:
http://www.thedailybell.com/1425/IMF-Article-Predicts-New-World-Order.html
Related info:
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/10853/
http://www.theage.com.au/national/investigations/heads-roll-at-rba-company-20090914-fnva.html
The United States itself, divided between its republican past and its authoritarian future has also given offense and is characterized as "egomaniacal."
Third ... the legislative body of choice, this article seems to indicate, is going to be the G20, and the IMF will seek validation and credibility from it (along with funds) before proceeding on its mission which is to become the G20s "administrative unit."
Reading this article, it is possible to visualize the Anglo-American elite as straining ponderously to take flight. It is attempting to shed in one convulsive effort, the painstaking paraphernalia with which it has encumbered itself in the past. The days of patiently building world government through the EU or the UN are OVER.
The decision has been made.
The G20 is now the vehicle of choice and the IMF will interpret its G20 mandate as it wishes to rather than before when it wants nothing more than to build "peace through economic stability."
outta char. again.. next post.
Canadian trade with the Americas (most exports ARE natural resources on the Canadian side) is at least 10 times that going to China. Cup half full view is that Canada can easily DOUBLE current exports by fully exploiting the markets in China.
Prices are fixed in and by the market. China is just one out of many countries buying from Canada. Japan and Korea are major Asian importers from Canada.
Before Harper we had PMs who were not totally blinded by their own self-perceived brilliance.
Unless both parties are equal in labour , environmental, and social standards, free trade won't work. China's standards in all of these are far below those of Canada and the US.
The only possible outcome is a huge trade imbalance in China's favour and consequent job losses and lowering of those standards in Canada. A race to the bottom.
Free trade with China?
Suicidal.
Thats all that would be.
Plain old economic suicide.
I question Mr Woo's intentions in writing this piece.
Is he a Canadian citizen?
Or is he some covert corporate operator
I would ask Mr Woo if his intentions in proposing a free trade pact with China is a measure to elevate the standard of living for the Chinese people or an attempt to lessen ours?
China has 8 FTAs and another 6 being negotiated. In every one of the 8 signed, bilateral trade (both goods and services) went up.
FTA probably works less well if the two sides are in heavy competition over the same sectors.
The only comment I add to yours is: It is up to the government to negotiate the best FTA possible for Canada.
Cheers!
It is a trade matter - it is not a venue to browbeat the other country over their human-rights situation etc... it is simple matter of you sell us X and we will pay Y, on as many products or services as both sides decide to include in the accord.
One thing that we like about this scenario is that by engaging in trade with Western nations developing nations learn our ways. This helps them to progress in real time in all matters, including among other things, best practices for the business community, human rights, environmental legislation and the reasons for those standards.
Where there is better communication - better relationships result.
A FTA with China, Japan, India and other countries will facilitate better relationships with those countries AND improve Canada's economy.
Will an FTA solve every problem? No, obviously not. There will never be one big agreement that will address every identified negative policy or procedure in a developing country. An FTA will however, play an integral part of that process going forward.
http://www.miningwatch.ca/en/newsletter-categories/newsletters/newsletter-29-autumn-2010
So the PM is stonewalling and hoping to run out the clock on this one, as per the usual MO. I hope pressure mounts for the truth to come out, and I would love to find out which lobby group was implicated in this.**
which lobby group? Mining for sure GOLDCORP is in Guatemala
the industry lobbying
effort became even fiercer. Canadian mining giant
Barrick Gold had registered seven lobbyists to
lobby on Bill C-300 and Barrick's lobbyists met
with at least 22 Members of Parliament and 3
Senators. Other mining companies that registered
one or more lobbyists to lobby on Bill C-300
include Vale Canada, Goldcorp, Kinross, and
IAMGOLD.
Additionally, the Mining Association of
Canada lobbied at least 29 members of Parliament
and PDAC lobbied at least seven MPs.
http://www.miningwatch.ca/en/bill-c-300-high-water-mark-mining-and-government-accountability
There is nothing wrong with a foreign government or corporation making it's "best sales pitch" to a sitting government or opposition MP's.
It is up to the government to only accept the best deal for Canada, with no unethical conduct.
Thanks for the links. I'm strongly in favour of checks and balances for government and business - and any other organizations BTW, from churches, to agencies, to sports teams, to the Boy Scouts.
Cheers!
China is already buying up Canada stealthily.. since HARPER'S GOVERNMENT has put up the for sale sign
Its been about 40 years since we had to live through that fiasco,when foreign investment dried up, value of our dollar nose dived and the interest rates on mortgages hit 20%.
Our great prime minister of the day (Trudeau)engineered that, and you want to relive it?
Bliss, Michael. “Founding FIRA: The Historical Background.” In Foreign Investment Review Law in Canada, edited by James M. Spence and William P. Rosenfeld, 1-11. Toronto: Butterworths, 1984.
English, John. Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau 1968-2000. Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2009.
Gillespie, Alastair W., with Irene Sage. Made in Canada: A Businessman’s Adventures in Politics. [Montreal]: Robin Brass Studio, 2009.
Globerman, Steven. “Canada’s Foreign Investment Review Agency and the Direct Investment Process in Canada.” Canadian Public Administration 27, no. 3 (1984): 313-328.
Levitt, Kari. Silent Surrender: The Multinational Corporation in Canada. Toronto: Macmillan, 1970.
Rotstein, Abraham. Getting It Back: A Program for Canadian Independence. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1974.
Safarian, A. E. Foreign Ownership of Canadian Industry. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1973.
What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens’ rights have in common? The Security Prosperity Partnership.
‘You, Me, and the S.P.P: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule’ is a feature length documentary which exposes the latest manifestation of a corporatist agenda that is undermining the democratic authority of the citizens of North America.
Two processes, the Security Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and the Trade Investment Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) are rapidly eroding and eliminating standards, civil liberties, regulatory systems and institutions put in place over generations through the democratic process. Proponents of the SPP and TILMA say that they are needed to keep trade flowing, opponents say these agreements not only undermine the democratic authority of citizens they threaten the sovereignty of the three nations through the integration of military, security structures and regulatory regimes.
http://rabble.ca/news/2009/10/you-me-and-spp-filmmakers-journey
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/rabble-staff/2009/09/rabble-live-broadcast-you-me-and-spp-tour-launch-parliament-hill
“From NAFTA To CETA: Canada-EU Deep Economic Integration
In a recent article Maude Barlow, national chair of the Council of Canadians, points out the dangers Canada faces with the current CETA trade model.
She warns that:
“CETA will open up the rules, standards and public spending priorities of provinces and municipalities to direct competition and challenge from European corporations.” Barlow goes on to say, “Europe is seeking a comprehensive and aggressive global approach to acquiring the raw materials needed by its corporations.
At its heart, this deal is a bid for unprecedented and uncontrolled European access to Canadian resources.”
She also added, “CETA will likely have a NAFTA-type investor-state enforcement mechanism, which means that European corporations will have the same right that U.S. companies now enjoy to sue the Canadian government if it introduces new rules to protect the environment.”
If CETA includes something similar to NAFTA’s Chapter 11 which gives corporations the power to challenge laws and regulations that restrict their profits, U.S. and Mexican companies could benefit from any rulings that favour the EU.
Ultimately, like NAFTA and other trade deals, CETA will further serve corporate interests.”
full article http://beyourownleader.blogspot.com/2011/01/from-nafta-to-ceta-canada-eu-deep.html
NAFTA's controversial investor-state dispute mechanism The Chapter 11 dispute process has allowed and encouraged large multinationals to sue North American governments for compensation against public health and environmental policies that limit corporate profits.
By Terry Glavin, The Ottawa Citizen January 12, 2012
But if we’re seriously supposed to be going all villagers-with-torches about foreign outfits with weird ideologies undermining Canada’s national economic interests, let’s review what’s really going on, shall we?
The $5.5-billion Enbridge pipeline project is all about sending Alberta bitumen in huge oil tankers to China. Beijing’s own state enterprises are among the project’s major backers, and Beijing has been buying up Alberta’s oilpatch at such a dizzying pace lately it’s hard to keep up. In the spring of 2010, China’s state-owned Sinopec Corp. took a $4.65-billion piece of Syncrude. Then the China Investment Corporation, which is run by the Chinese Communist Party, took possession of a $1.25-billon share of Penn West Petroleum. Last summer, the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation gobbled up Opti Canada for $2.34 billion. And so on.
Then, last month, Sinopec spent $2.2-billion to take over Daylight Energy Ltd., and last week, Petro-China, with the final push of $1.9 billion, became the owner and manager of the MacKay River oilsands project. This is what Ottawa doesn’t want you noticing.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/real+foreign+interests+oilsands/5981230/story.html#ixzz1jK6h4ilr
In recent months, Chinese state-owned oil companies have begun seeking ambitious oil deals in Canada - the top petroleum supplier to the U.S. - including the acquisition of Canadian energy companies. Sinopec, one of China's largest state-owned energy companies, is interested in buying stakes in the vast reserves of the Alberta oilsands. The Canadian giant Enbridge is pushing ahead with a plan to build a $2.5-billion pipeline to transport oil from Alberta to the coast of British Colombia from where it will be shipped across the Pacific to China. Though it is not clear which of these deals will come to fruition, the possibility of Chinese acquisition of portions of Canada's energy industry - which could lead to a loss of up to a third of Canada's potential exports to the U.S. - should be a source of concern in Washington.
Control of major companies by a Communist government could weaken U.S.-Canada relations exposing Canada to Chinese pressure to part ways from the U.S. on issues which both countries have historically agreed upon regarding China, like human rights abuses, arms sales to the Middle East and China's relations with Taiwan.
http://www.iags.org/china.htm
http://www.iags.org/n0118041.htm
&
http://www.energybridge.ca/articles-chinese/entry/natural-gas-do-the-chinese-know-more-than-we-do
Free trade, for anyone not in a mercantilist economy, will not work. If you Canadians want to find some roof to commit mass suicide on like the Foxcomm workers, go ahead and pass free trade with China.