US Trade Barriers and Canadian Minerals: Copper, Potash and Uranium

Stewart K. Sutley is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science (a Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellow) at
the University of Alberta.

To anyone concerned with Canada’s future economic prospects in
relation to its resource base, this study is important. Through their
discussion of the “new protectionism,” the authors focus on the
recent U.S. disposition toward international trade, then relate their
findings in three case studies of U.S.-Canadian trade, dealing with
potash, copper, and uranium. The authors did not select these minerals
indiscriminately, but rather, these demonstrate the variable treatment
of different items within large sets of national (U.S.) legislation. The
authors conclude by tentatively assessing the Free Trade Agreement in
relation to these three minerals. Within this structure, the authors
provide a well-grounded historical analysis of the development of U.S.
trade legislation, coupled with up-to-date examples of trade, laws,
political coalitions, and institutions at work.

The authors’ lengthy discussion of the “new protectionism”
illustrates its main legislative features and explains its origins.
Moreover, in their effort to demonstrate the interrelatedness of a
myriad of issues in the changing U.S. disposition toward trade, they
accomplish the difficult task of furnishing a lucid and succinct
synthesis of U.S. trade reality. Subtlety, not sweeping generality,
characterizes their cautious approach to their subject. This approach
makes evident the variable character of recent attempts by U.S. actors
to change the status of Canadian potash, copper, and uranium exports.
The authors attune us to the rich political and economic struggle
surrounding these minerals, and acquaint us with the arsenal of
strategies that have been, and could be employed.

This study accomplishes its tasks in a refreshing and direct manner,
keeping us abreast of recent developments. Only in the chapter on
uranium, one of Haglund’s long-time substantive interests, is the
reader distracted by what seems unnecessary (and even repetitious)
discussion of this mineral’s “strategic” character. The authors’
reprise of a wide swath of potentially confusing U.S. trade legislation,
their depiction of intense political struggle, and their subtle
technique more than make up for the volume’s minor failings.