INDUSTRY LOBBY PRAISES COMMERCE’s HANDLING OF CANADIAN LUMBER DISPUTE

INDUSTRY LOBBY PRAISES COMMERCEÆS HANDLING OF CANADIAN LUMBER DISPUTE    The Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports praised a proposed policy bulletin issued by the U.S. Commerce Department, which could help to defuse a long-standing dispute over softwood lumber trade between the United States and Canada.
   The Washington-based lobbying group believes the discussion paper provides a process to eliminate the current countervailing duties through changes to Canadian provincial stumpage practices that would move Canada to a “market-based system” for timber sales.
   “Canadian officials have indicated a need for the U.S. to outline parameters for long-term reform,” said Coalition chairman Rusty Wood. “The process outlined by the Department of Commerce indicates what the U.S. government would consider open and competitive markets.”
   “We hope the policy bulletin assures the Canadian governments that addressing the market-distorting policies will end the dispute with our largest trading partner,” Wood added.
   The coalition said it would continue to work with the Commerce Department to further develop the proposed document.