Softwood lumber deal 'central' to Canada-U.S. relationship, Christy Clark says - Action News
Home WebMail Monday, November 11, 2024, 03:46 AM | Calgary | -1.1°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Politics

Softwood lumber deal 'central' to Canada-U.S. relationship, Christy Clark says

B.C. Premier Christy Clark is expressing hope the Trudeau government can overcome U.S. resistance and renew a softwood lumber deal that brought peace to Canada-U.S. trade relations a decade ago.

B.C. premier in Ottawa to meet Friday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Premier Christy Clark is in Ottawa to lead a B.C. delegation meeting with federal officials on economic, trade and immigration issues. She'll sit down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

B.C. Premier Christy Clark is expressing hope the Trudeau government can overcome U.S. resistance and renew a softwood lumber deal that brought peace to Canada-U.S. trade relations a decade ago.

"The last time relations around softwood lumber went sideways, [Canada's]whole relationship with the United States went off the rails," Clark told reporters in Ottawa Thursday.

Clark and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are scheduled to meet in person on Friday.

The prime minister "has been absolutely steadfast in wanting to support getting this deal done, making sure that we avoid a disruption in the nation's trade relationships," Clark said.

The previous agreement expired Oct. 12, but includeda standstill clause that prevents the U.S. from launching any trade action against Canadian producers for one year.

The original dealto revoke U.S.countervailing measures against Canadian lumber was signed in 2006 and renewed in 2012, after years of trade disputes at the World Trade Organization and an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 job losses for the Canadian industry.

More than $4.5 billion in tariffs were eventually returned to Canadian exporters. Since then,export charges have been levied on Canadian productswhen the lumberprice dropped below a certain amount.

Now, Canada's low dollar, combined with promising U.S. housing starts, is creating new demand for the B.C.industry's products. That'salso attracting the attention of U.S. producers, who appear uninterested in renewing the previous agreement as Canada wants.

"This is not just a regional issue, or a single-sector issue. This is central to our relationship with our best friend in the world and that's the United States," Clark said.

"There's always a deal there. The softwood lumber agreement's been good for America, it's been good for Canada," she said. "It should be renewed, and the prime minister's working on that."

Trudeau's Washington visit

Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Wednesday on a teleconference from NewZealand that the first time Trudeau met U.S. President Barack Obama at the APECconference last November, he proactively raised the need to resolve things.

When the previous softwood lumber dispute snagged Canada-U.S. trade relations over a decade ago, nearly 10,000 Canadian jobs were said to have been lost, owing to billions in duties levied against Canadian exports. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Freeland said her officials were "working very hard" and she's had "many conversations" with U.S. trade representative Michael Froman.

The trade ministerhinted that a breakthrough may comebefore the prime minister visits Washington next month.

"We know we have an important moment in Canada-U.S. relations coming up on March 10 and I am working hard with our American partners to make significant progress by then," Freeland said.

Clark was meeting Thursday with U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman to raise the issue again.

Clark is in Ottawa with a trade delegation from B.C. of more than 100 representatives of industry, labour andFirst Nations, meeting with federal representatives on shared issues like job training and immigration.

Talks with federal officials have been "very encouraging," she said, describing Trudeau's government as a "really willing partner" with her province.

B.C.'s diversified and growing economy is a "real sign of hope in a country where a lot of things are going wrong," she said.

The Tory critic for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Todd Doherty, says half the jobs in his riding are dependent on the forestry industry, and he wants assurances that getting a softwood lumber agreement with the U.S.is of paramount importance to the federal government.

"Obviously this is on the premier's mind, but it has to be on this prime minister's mind as well," he said. "At the very least, we have to make sure we get this discussion started."