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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 24, 2005 <i>(6:15 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 236</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER PETERSON STATEMENT FOLLOWING UNITED STATES
CRITICISM OF CANADA’S SUPPORT FOR FORESTRY INDUSTRY</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson issued the following statement in response to a
news release by United States Trade Representative Rob Portman and U.S. Secretary of
Commerce Carlos Gutierrez:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“Canada will vigorously defend its efforts to help sustain an industry that is being unjustly
persecuted while the United States continues to ignore NAFTA panel decisions. </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“Panel after panel has found that Canadian softwood lumber is not subsidized. The United
States claims that it has complied with NAFTA. In fact, the United States will only have
complied with NAFTA when it stops collecting the duties and refunds the deposits. The
people of Canada and the United States alike have unjustly suffered for years due to the
continued harassment by the</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"> U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports. </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“If the United States actually does the right thing—that is, drop the duties and return our
money—</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">the support package can be reviewed. Until then, the Government of Canada will
stand behind our workers and we will keep reminding the United States of the need to
respect the letter and spirit of NAFTA.” </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The news release issued by Mr. Portman and Mr. Gutierrez is available at </span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221013347/http://www.ustr.gov/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">www.ustr.gov</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">.<span> </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">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="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></p>
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