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<title>CANADA EXPECTS U.S. TO COMPLY WITH WTO BYRD DECISION</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>January 16, 2003 <em>(2:45 p.m. EST)</em> No. 6</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA EXPECTS U.S. TO COMPLY WITH WTO BYRD DECISION</strong></font></p>
<p>The Government of Canada today welcomed the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body Report that confirms
that the U.S. Byrd Amendment violates international trade law. </p>
<p>"We welcome this appeal decision," said Minister Pettigrew. "Fundamentally, the Byrd Amendment is misguided and bears
far-reaching consequences for the international trading system."</p>
<p>The Byrd Amendment, also known as the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, allows U.S. producers who
support petitions for anti-dumping and/or countervailing duty investigations to receive a share of the duties collected as a
result of the imposition of anti-dumping and/or countervailing duty orders. For example, the Byrd Amendment, if
maintained, could distribute duties imposed on Canadian softwood lumber imports directly to U.S. producers.</p>
<p>"The Amendment gives U.S. producers an unjustified and potentially trade distorting advantage by offering them an
incentive to file for anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations since they would receive a share of the duty, as we
have seen in the softwood lumber dispute," added Minister Pettigrew. "We expect that the United States will comply with
this decision."</p>
<p>The United States now has to implement the findings and remove the measure. In this case, it would likely require repealing
the legislation, which could take up to 15 months.</p>
<p>For additional information on this trade dispute, please consult the following Web sites:</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123040055/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/dispute-en.asp#13">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/dispute-en.asp#13</a> and <a href="www.wto.org">http://www.wto.org</a></p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact: </p>
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<p>Sébastien Théberge</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister for International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 992-7332</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123040055/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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