NEWS RELEASES
November 16, 2005 (2:20 p.m. EST)
No. 220
SOFTWOOD: NAFTA COUNTERVAILING DUTY PANEL REJECTS U.S.
MOTIONS
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today issued the following statement
regarding the NAFTA countervailing duty panel’s rejection of a U.S. Department of
Commerce (DOC) request for clarification on the panel’s latest decision on softwood
lumber:
“Canada has strongly opposed any initiatives to delay doing the right thing. We will
keep up the pressure to see NAFTA respected. Here is a prime opportunity for the U.S.
to demonstrate its commitment to the treaty it signed, plain and simple.
“On October 5, the panel provided the DOC with clear instructions on how to calculate
the alleged subsidy level. Today, the panel reiterated its previous instructions and
ordered the DOC to issue a new determination by November 23, 2005.
“The DOC should now comply with the panel’s instructions and issue a determination
that Canadian softwood lumber production is not subsidized. It is clear that with close to
$2 billion in trade crossing our border each day, North America as a whole stands to
benefit.”
On October 28, 2005, the DOC filed a motion with the NAFTA panel in the softwood
lumber subsidy case requesting clarification of the panel’s October 5 instructions. The
DOC had also sought permission to file its remand determination 10 days after having
received clarification from the panel. On November 4, 2005, Canada filed a brief with
the NAFTA panel asking it the reject the U.S. motion. On November 16, the panel
denied the U.S. request for clarification and instructed the DOC to issue its remand
determination by November 23.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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