<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>CANADA FILES MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCEIN SOFTWOOD LUMBER CASE</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>June 28, 2001 <em>(12:45 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 91</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>CANADA FILES MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>IN SOFTWOOD LUMBER CASE</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that Canada filed its response in the U.S.
countervailing duty investigation of softwood lumber from Canada. The U.S. Department of Commerce sought
information on the alleged subsidization of Canada's softwood lumber industry.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Today's filing of over 250 000 pages of documentation by the Government of Canada, on behalf of the federal
and provincial governments, refutes the U.S. industry's allegations of subsidy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"The U.S. industry has alleged that a Canadian "wall of wood" would cross the border," said Minister Pettigrew.
"We have responded to their unfounded allegations with a mountain of evidence to refute their claims."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In response to the U.S. industry's unsubstantiated claims, Canada provided Department of Commerce officials
with a truckload of documentation refuting U.S. subsidy allegations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"We continue to challenge the countervailing duty case initiated by the U.S. industry," added Mr. Pettigrew.
"There is no evidence of subsidy. There is no evidence of dumping. There is no evidence of injury to the U.S.
industry. We are providing U.S. authorities with ample documentation to support this view.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"As I have stated before, our ultimate goal is free trade," concluded the Minister. "The Government of Canada
will continue to work with the provinces and industry to defend our interests and I am confident we will prevail."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sébastien Théberge</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
</body>
</html>
