XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: §pamßuster@ca.com   
      
   But WHAT exactly is it that BC is exporting to China?  Same raw logs - instead   
   of processed   
   lumber - that we exported to the United States.  Jobs for British Columbians?    
   Nope - just more   
   sales for forestry giants and still little increase in jobs for B.C.     
   'Christy Campbell   
   Liberals' at the helm now.  Just a slight shift in the compass, but the   
   direction for British   
   Columbians is still skewed.   
   ______________________________________________   
      
   August 12, 2011 - Globe and Mail Update   
      
   B.C.'s exports to Asia eclipse sales to U.S.   
      
   A dramatic shift from three years ago, when the United States was the   
   province's primary   
   customer for forestry products and industrials goods   
   British Columbia's exports to Asia have eclipsed sales to the U.S. for the   
   first time, with the   
   province's total exports rising in June by 11 per cent, B.C.'s jobs minister   
   Pat Bell said   
   Friday.   
      
   It's a dramatic shift from just three years ago, when the United States was   
   the province's   
   primary customer for its forestry products, industrial goods and energy   
   products.   
      
   At that time, more than 70 per cent of B.C. exports travelled to the U.S. But   
   B.C.   
   manufacturers are increasingly shifting focus to Europe and Asia.   
      
   "For the first half of the year we've seen a total of $6.9-billion worth of   
   goods flow into the   
   Asia marketplace, that compares to $6.8 billion into the United States," Mr.   
   Bell told   
   reporters after Statistics Canada released new export data.   
      
   For the first six months of 2011, B.C.'s international merchandise exports   
   were worth $15.9   
   billion, compared with $14 billion last year.   
      
   "Given the economic turmoil we're seeing globally right now, it's great to   
   see," Mr. Bell said.   
      
   Premier Christy Clark is expected to lead a trade mission to China and India   
   in November, part   
   of the government's continued efforts to open new trade and investment   
   opportunities.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)