:: rawblogXport ::

:: Sunday, December 14, 2003 ::

Ontario Gov't, 'Bulk Of Industry' Opposes US Lumber Plan By Lynne Olver, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
The Ontario provincial government won't support a U.S. proposal to end the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber trade dispute, Ontario Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay said Thursday.

Among other items, Ontario lumber producers don't like the fact that only 52% of roughly C$2 billion in antidumping and countervailing duties already paid by Canadian producers to the U.S. government would flow back to Canada. In addition, quotas would only be assigned to existing exporters, Ramsay noted.

Lumber Dealers Urge US and Canadian Softwood Trade Negotiators to Reject Agreement Imposing Quota on Vital Softwood Lumber Imports National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
“Historically, we have had to import at least a third of our lumber needs from Canada in order to have the quality of lumber required for construction of homes or remodeling. This agreement, if ratified, is clearly anti-business, anti-competitive, and anti-affordable housing.  It only hurts US consumers, especially first time home buyers.” 

posted 7:41 PM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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