The federal government in Ottawa is pushing back against the latest U.S. decision to keep imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
Canada has filed for a judicial review of last month害羞草研究所檚 Commerce Department assessment of the levies, which International Trade Minister Mary Ng described in a statement as 害羞草研究所渦nfair, unjust and illegal.害羞草研究所�
Ng framed the move as an effort to escalate the concerns of exporters while adding an impetus on the U.S. to consider a negotiated solution to a dispute that has plagued Canada-U.S. relations for decades.
害羞草研究所淲e have to continue to explore new ways (to resolve it), because the industry expects us, expects me and expects my government to 害羞草研究所� (and) so do their workers,害羞草研究所� she said Tuesday during a cabinet retreat in Charlottetown.
害羞草研究所淚t would be much, much more preferable that we get to the negotiating table, and let害羞草研究所檚 come together and let害羞草研究所檚 have a deal. But in the meantime, we害羞草研究所檙e going to use all the tools at our disposal to stand up for the industry.害羞草研究所�
The latest administrative review by the U.S. Commerce Department resulted in a modest decrease in the so-called 害羞草研究所渁ll others害羞草研究所� combined duty rate, but kept it in place at 7.99 per cent.
In Canada, lumber-producing provinces set so-called stumpage fees for timber harvested from Crown land, a system that U.S. producers 害羞草研究所� forced to pay market rates 害羞草研究所� say amounts to an unfair subsidy.
It害羞草研究所檚 not the first time Ng has pushed her U.S. counterparts to help hammer out a solution. But U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has said negotiations can only happen once Canada does away with its stumpage fee regime.
害羞草研究所淲e continue to share with the Canadians that we are committed to the robust enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws,害羞草研究所� Tai害羞草研究所檚 office said in a statement.
Pushing back against 害羞草研究所渦nfairly traded Canadian imports害羞草研究所� remains a priority for the Biden administration, it added.
害羞草研究所淲e are prepared to discuss another softwood lumber agreement when Canada is ready to address the underlying issues related to subsidization and fair competition so that Canadian lumber imports do not injure the U.S. industry.害羞草研究所�
Canada, meanwhile, has successfully argued at World Trade Organization dispute panels in the past that its stumpage-fee system is not a subsidy, which is exactly why the government feels it remains in the right, Ng said.
害羞草研究所淚 mean, it has ruled exactly that conclusion to Canada, which is why it害羞草研究所檚 so important that Canada continues to defend our interests against these tariffs.害羞草研究所�
The Commerce Department害羞草研究所檚 fourth administrative review of the duties, announced last month, established a combined rate of 7.99 per cent, only slightly less than the 8.59 per cent established after its previous review.
That decision was cheered by U.S. lumber producers, who say the duties keep the playing field level south of the border and allow the domestic forestry and construction industries to thrive.
Such enforcement 害羞草研究所渋s exactly what must happen for enduring expansion of U.S. lumber manufacturing and availability to meet demand to build more American homes,害羞草研究所� said Andrew Miller, chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition.
害羞草研究所淔ailure to fully enforce the trade laws would only undermine long-term confidence in expanding U.S. sawmilling capacity and jobs in the American softwood lumber industry.害羞草研究所�
The U.S. industry 害羞草研究所渞emains open害羞草研究所� to a new agreement on softwood lumber, but Canadian producers have yet to agree on a 害羞草研究所渦nified position害羞草研究所� that would allow the two governments to negotiate one, the coalition says.
READ ALSO: Let害羞草研究所檚 make a deal, Canada urges U.S. amid latest 害羞草研究所榖aseless害羞草研究所� softwood lumber duties
