:: rawblogXport ::

:: Monday, January 19, 2004 ::

U.S. could be forced to lower duties By BARRIE McKENNA, Globe and Mail
WTO challenges softwood levy

The United States could be forced to drop its duties on Canadian softwood lumber by another notch in the wake of a key World Trade Organization decision.

In an interim ruling yesterday, the WTO upheld the right of the United States to impose anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber, but the Geneva-based organization challenged the way Washington tallied its 8.38-per-cent levy.

Market pricing starts on Feb. 29 By Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun
Environmentalists call timber policy 'absurd,' saying old-growth forests are threatened

The American lumber industry was quick to respond to the new pricing system for timber.

"It's certainly a move in the right direction," said John Ragosta, of the U.S. lobby group Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports.

"All we want is competition. Show us that it works. We have sort of given you the guideposts, we have shown you the goal line," he said referring to a department of commerce bulletin that outlines steps provinces need to take to reach free trade in lumber.

posted 6:52 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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