Wrath
April 29th, 2004, 19:37
VICTORIA - A North American Free Trade panel has ruled in favour of Canadian lumber producers in their long-running softwood dispute with the U.S.
The NAFTA panel ruling rejected U.S. claims that Canadian softwood has caused "injury" to the American industry.
"This is certainly a significant victory for Canada," says International Trade Minister Jim Peterson.
"And we hope that the U.S.will comply with the NAFTA panel decision on threat of injury."
Peterson says he will be meeting with his provincial counterparts very soon to discuss a new offer to the U.S to end the dispute.
In B.C., Forests Minister Mike de Jong stops short of calling the ruling an outright victory, noting the U.S. has 21 days to re-state its argument.
But de Jong does say the NAFTA panel ruling will be binding on the U.S. once that appeal period has run out.
"The NAFTA panel has the authority ultimately to order the return of the in excess of $2 billion in deposits," says the minister.
John Allan of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council says the U.S. coalition of lumber producers responsible for the softwood tariffs isn't about to concede anything, despite Thursday's ruling.
"The U.S. should fold its tent and go away, given what we read today in this NAFTA report," he says. "But this is lumber, and we are in an election cycle in the U.S., and the coalition will not go quietly into the night. I can guarantee you that."
The U.S. has imposed punishing duties averaging 27 per cent on Canadian softwood lumber exports – a move that has cost the Canadian industry that $2 billion plus thousand of jobs.
http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_softwood20040429
The NAFTA panel ruling rejected U.S. claims that Canadian softwood has caused "injury" to the American industry.
"This is certainly a significant victory for Canada," says International Trade Minister Jim Peterson.
"And we hope that the U.S.will comply with the NAFTA panel decision on threat of injury."
Peterson says he will be meeting with his provincial counterparts very soon to discuss a new offer to the U.S to end the dispute.
In B.C., Forests Minister Mike de Jong stops short of calling the ruling an outright victory, noting the U.S. has 21 days to re-state its argument.
But de Jong does say the NAFTA panel ruling will be binding on the U.S. once that appeal period has run out.
"The NAFTA panel has the authority ultimately to order the return of the in excess of $2 billion in deposits," says the minister.
John Allan of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council says the U.S. coalition of lumber producers responsible for the softwood tariffs isn't about to concede anything, despite Thursday's ruling.
"The U.S. should fold its tent and go away, given what we read today in this NAFTA report," he says. "But this is lumber, and we are in an election cycle in the U.S., and the coalition will not go quietly into the night. I can guarantee you that."
The U.S. has imposed punishing duties averaging 27 per cent on Canadian softwood lumber exports – a move that has cost the Canadian industry that $2 billion plus thousand of jobs.
http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_softwood20040429