Ottawa launches new softwood lumber dispute challenges, urges U.S. to negotiate – National | 24CA News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s authorities is broadening its pushback towards the most recent U.S. choice to maintain imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is launching challenges underneath the North American free-trade deal in addition to earlier than the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Nine days in the past, Ottawa sought a judicial overview of final month’s Treasury Department evaluation of the levies, which offered modest aid however maintained the mixed obligation charge at 7.99 per cent.
Ng says Canada stays open to negotiating a decision to the decades-old dispute, which she calls “unfair, unjust and illegal,” whereas arguing it will increase housing prices.
She is once more urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to take a seat down and negotiate a decision to the decades-old dispute.
Such a deal could be difficult because the U.S. takes situation with a long-standing regulatory system in Canada that it says places American producers at an obstacle.
Tai has stated the U.S. could be keen to barter, however provided that Canada does away with a system that enables provinces to set costs for timber from Crown land.
The U.S. ambassador to Canada echoed that sentiment in an announcement issued Thursday night.
“The United States is open to resolving our differences with Canada over softwood lumber to ensure a level playing field for U.S. industry,” David Cohen stated.
“U.S. trade officials have communicated to Canada our commitment to reaching an agreement if Canada addresses underlying policy issues related to subsidization and fair competition.”
Ng’s choice this week could have Canada deliver the most recent U.S. anti-dumping obligation willpower earlier than the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Ottawa can be difficult the Treasury Department’s fourth overview underneath Chapter 10 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which pertains to overview and dispute settlement procedures. Ottawa made the identical transfer a 12 months in the past after the third overview.
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