Trudeau has 'window' to settle softwood dispute before NAFTA talks: Raymond Chrtien

According to former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Raymond Chrtien, the Trudeau government has a small window to settle the softwood lumber dispute out of court before U.S. President Donald Trump kicks off his renegotiationof theNorth America Free Trade Agreement.

The two countries' dispute over softwood lumber goes back years, and inthe most recent flare-upthe U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed countervailing duties of between three and24 per cent on Canadian imports.

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr responded to thetariffsbysaying Canada is exploring its legal options.

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ButChrtien, who is also Quebec's lead negotiator on the softwood lumber file,told CBC Radio'sThe Househost Chris Hall that the disputedoesn't have to get that far.

"I'm confident that there's a window, perhaps for a negotiated settlement for the following reason: Mr. Trump has indicated that he wanted a quick ... renegotiation of NAFTA, but this is not possible in my view," he said.

"So why not solve the lumber dispute before you tackle the more comprehensive, complicated NAFTA negotiations?" Chrtien said in an interview airing Saturday.

"So hopefully there's a small window there and I'm surethat in Ottawa they would welcome a softwood lumber deal."

Chrtien, who served as ambassador from 1994 to 2000 and watched NAFTA come into effect, said that between Trump's health-care stumble earlier this year and the potential difficulties involved in implementing his tax reforms, Trump will be looking for a victory on lumber quickly.

Quick NAFTA negotiations unlikely

ChrtiensaidTrudeau'sgovernment can make a consumer case to both U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Trump, because the pair are both businessmen.

"I mean the fact that Mr. Trump wants to help the middle class, and of course our lumber is necessary to keep the housing costs low, so [we must] very much try to make our case in line with his overall desire to help the middle class there,"Chrtiensaid.

On NAFTA, Chrtiensaid it will take time to work with Congress beforerevising the agreement.

"In my view NAFTA cannot be renegotiated in a matter of weeks or months," he said.

"I remember the hugely important role of Congress. This is not up to the administration to decide;Congress has the final word on this. What will be the scenario next week, I cannot tell you."

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