Us Canadian Magazine Dispute Case Study

To what extent do you think the U.S.-Canadian magazine dispute was motivated by genuine desires to protect Canadian culture?

I imagine that initially the dispute was motivated by Canadian nationalism and eventually evolved into a standalone conflict. It began fueled “by a desire to promote Canadian cultural uniqueness in magazine production had therefore escalated to the brink of inciting a wide-ranging trade war” (The Levin Institute, n.d.). Canadian attempts to preserve their national identity through their magazine production prompted American magazine producers to circumvent the prohibitory measures imposed on foreign magazines. This in turn inspired the Canadian government to establish further sanctions and the entire dispute

People, regardless of geographic location, should have the right to purchase any goods from any other nation or region. The Canadian people did in fact “vote” with their purchasing habits, they made very clear that they preferred foreign magazines by purchasing them almost 90% of the time. They should absolutely be permitted to spend their money as they please and it is not the governments place to step in and sanction when and how people are allowed to do so.

Is it fair to levy extra taxes against foreign magazines—which have the effect of forcing Canadian purchasers of foreign magazines to subsidize local publications?

I do not think it is fair to levy extra taxes against foreign magazines alone, but I do understand why foreign products would generally be taxed more than domestic ones. It is more expensive for the government to process foreign goods entering their country so it makes sense that they would charge more money to process these things. That being said, in the case of digital information the same procedures are near impossible to enforce so it becomes a point of contention for the government trying to keep foreign products like this away from their citizens.

If you were the Canadian government, trying to protect the domestic magazine market, what kind of criteria would you establish to distinguish between a split-run and a domestic

It would be assembled of a collection of individuals representing their respective nations whose job it would be to weigh the validity of cultural exemptions and vote either way to resolve a dispute. Any nation with a relevant dilemma could appoint an authority figure to sit on the panel that way it is not mandatory for nations to participate and only those involved are able to vote. It would be a democratic system in which all nations’ involved are represented and have a chance to voice their opinion.

How do you define a "cultural activity"?

I would define a cultural activity as a traditional, long-established and historic manifestation of regional human behaviors and societal norms.

Does the economic impact of whaling on the small fishing villages weigh into your decision?

The economic impact of whaling on small fishing villages did weigh into my decision, however, it did not take primary consideration because I think it is more important to honor cultural traditions. Not to say that the economic stability of a region is unimportant, it just did not weigh as heavily on my mind as the issue of honoring local traditions because I think it’s very important to a native people to appreciate their historical