OTTAWA (voa) – Canadian Int’l Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and the Canadian lumber industry condemned a U.S. decison to impose duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
”I am sorry that the American administration did not find the nerve to confront its protectionist softwood lumber producers,” Pettigrew said.
The United States is set to impose tariffs on Canadian lumber Friday, after talks between trade representatives broke down late Thursday.
An initial proposal set the U.S. tariff at around 32 percent, but the government will announce Friday the final amount.
Canada is accusing the United States of protectionism, a charge drawn earlier this year when the United States imposed tariffs on imported steel.
The United States says Canada is subsidizing its lumber industry and selling the wood too cheaply to U.S. buyers.
Pettigrew said that Canada will complaint before the World Trade Organization. The minister said he’s confident Canada will win.
