VICTORIA—Officials in Canada and the United States appear to have resumed the acrimonious softwood trade dispute just where they left off in 2006—with both sides blaming each other for failing to kick-start negotiations.
A British Columbia government official said Tuesday, Oct. 14, that the Americans have ignored Canada’s offers to renew or renegotiate the trade agreement.
But the U.S. Lumber Coalition, which represents American producers, said in a statement that Canada has been unwilling to begin talks.
“If Canada continues to stay away from the negotiating table, the United States industry will eventually have no choice but to use our rights under U.S. trade laws to offset the unfair advantages provided to Canadian industry,” said Charlie Thomas, a Mississippi lumber producer, in a coalition statement.
Nobody from the coalition was immediately available for comment. The agreement expired Monday.
The B.C. official said Canada indicated it was interested in extending or renewing the existing softwood lumber agreement but has yet to receive a response. The official said it appeared the Americans were focused on other trade deals, including the recent Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Susan Yurkovich of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council said a renewed or renegotiated softwood lumber agreement benefits both countries’ lumber industries.
“We think it’s incumbent on both governments to engage in discussions as soon as possible,” she said. “We need to find a way forward for certainty on both sides of the border.”
