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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 16, 2005 <i>(2:20 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 220</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">SOFTWOOD: NAFTA COUNTERVAILING DUTY PANEL REJECTS U.S.
MOTIONS</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">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:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“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.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“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. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“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.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">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.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221014424/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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