BC forestry and government reps say they’re talking tough to try and get duties dropped on softwood lumber exports.
Lawyers for the province and BC Lumber and Trade Council presented their case to the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement dispute settlement panel this week in Washington DC. It’s the first time the dispute mechanism in the agreement has been used.
Trade council president Kurt Niquidet says delays in the appeal process have made it difficult for companies across Canada, who are struggling with a recent doubling of duties imposed on Canadian softwood lumber entering the US.
Provincial forest minister Bruce Ralston says the duties cannot be justified, and that BC and Canada will continue use all litigation options to get them removed.
