WTO SUPPORTS CANADA IN SOFTWOOD RULING

Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Eldon Lautermilch is pleased that the World Trade Organization today confirmed in its final report that the approach used by the U.S. to impose countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber violates international trade rules.

"This WTO ruling, along with the recent NAFTA panel that similarly found the U.S. used flawed methodology to establish the level of the countervailing duty on Canadian softwood lumber, provides additional support for our view that the U.S. should be seriously considering a substantial reduction in, or even possible elimination of the existing duties," Lautermilch said.

"At the very least, the WTO and NAFTA rulings will place additional pressure on Washington and the U.S. softwood lumber industry to fully and meaningfully re-engage in negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable long-term solution to this dispute."

The U.S. has the opportunity to appeal the results of the final WTO report to the WTO's Appellate Body. This is one of several challenges brought by affected Canadian governments to WTO and NAFTA dispute settlement panels.

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For More Information, Contact:

Anna Arneson Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-8008 Cell: (306)533-2168