Softwood Ready to Rock

The March 31 expiry of the US-Canada Softwood Lumber Memorandum of 1996 looms ever larger. The issue is not subject to much debate in Canada, where there seems to be a presumption that eleventh hour brinksmanship is a clever negotiating strategy. Even in Parliament, there has been little said about it.

In the US, on the other hand, Senator Snowe of Maine introduced a sense of Congress resolution February 8 2001. The resolution, which enjoys wide support, says,

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President, the United States Trade Representative, and the Secretary of Commerce should-

1. make the problem of subsidized Canadian lumber imports a top trade priority to be addressed immediately;



2. take every possible action to end Canadian lumber subsidy practices through open and competitive sales of timber and logs in Canada for fair market value, or if Canada will not agree to end the subsidies immediately, provide that the subsidies be offset in the United States; and



3. if Canada does not agree to end subsidies for lumber-

(A) enforce vigorously, promptly, and fully the trade laws with respect to subsidized and dumped imports;
(B) explore all options to stop unfairly traded imports; and
(C) limit injury to the United States industry.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 -- Expressing The Sense Of Congress Regarding Subsidized Canadian Lumber Exports

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