October 6, 2006 (6:15 p.m. EDT)
No. 117

SOFTWOOD LUMBER AGREEMENT READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today issued the following statement on the Softwood Lumber Agreement:

“I am pleased today to announce that Canada and the United States are ready to implement the Softwood Lumber Agreement on October 12, 2006.

“Through flexibility, understanding and cooperation, both countries have successfully met all the requirements necessary to implement the Softwood Lumber Agreement next week, and have found a satisfactory resolution to the outstanding legal and administrative issues.

“Our government made a commitment to ensure the swift return of more than C$5 billion to Canadian softwood producers, and I am pleased to confirm that the Export Development Canada duty refund mechanism is in place and moving forward. Providing at least seven to nine years of stability, this Agreement ends years of costly litigation and brings new economic certainty to those companies, communities and workers across Canada whose livelihoods depend on the softwood lumber industry.

“It is important as well to recognize this Agreement’s broader economic dimension. By establishing a new era of respect and cooperation with our most important trading partner, Canada’s New Government has enhanced our bilateral relationship, proving again that through focus and hard work we're achieving real results for Canadians.”

More information is available at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eicb/softwood/SLA-main-en.asp.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Robert Klager
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
613-996-8605

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
http://www.international.gc.ca