NEWS RELEASES
STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE PIERRE PETTIGREW ON U.S. INITIATION OF LUMBER INVESTIGATIONS
April 24, 2001 (1:10 p.m. EDT) No. 49
STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE PIERRE PETTIGREW
ON U.S. INITIATION OF LUMBER INVESTIGATIONS
On April 23, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated countervailing and antidumping
investigations of softwood lumber exports from Canada. This decision by the U.S. Department of
Commerce is quite disappointing and unjustified, given the ample documentation supplied by
Canadian governments and industry regarding the deficiencies of the petitions.
Our legal team has reviewed the U.S. petitions, and we believe there is no evidence of subsidy,
dumping or injury to U.S. industry.
We have already taken a number of steps to defend our softwood lumber industry, including
challenging U.S. legislation before the World Trade Organization and closely monitoring
Canadian lumber exports to counter false U.S. claims.
We continue to consult closely with industry stakeholders and provincial governments. This is
the fourth time in twenty years that U.S. industry has taken trade action against Canadian
softwood lumber producers. On all previous occasions, the United States has taken trade action
against Canadian lumber exports and has failed to sustain a finding of illegal subsidies to
Canadian producers.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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