“Significant differences” remain between Canada and the United States on the softwood lumber file.
Canada Minister of Trade Chrystia Freeland and US Trade Representative Michael Froman have issued a joint statement on negotiations between the two sides.
The statement says officials have been meeting “intensively” in government to government sessions and with stakeholders and provincial and state governments.
“While significant differences remain between us, this period of intensive engagement has helped define shared goals and explore options for several key components of any new agreement. Following this initial 100 days of intensive engagement, the United States and Canada have made significant advances in exploring the key issues and priorities.”
The two sides say they are “committed to continuing negotiations.”
Last week in Quesnel, BC Premier Christy Clark told reporters the clock is ticking.
“Ideally we would have gotten a deal by now that reflected the interests of BC. There is always give and take at the table, but we are not doing a bad deal, we are not going to let that happen. Because the effects of that will be felt for a decade.”
She says a “bad deal” would mean quotas on Canadian lumber imports going into the United States, something American lumber producers are pushing for.
“If Ottawa makes the wrong deal for BC, we could see thousands of jobs lost here.”
With a historically vitriol filled election underway south of the border, Clark called the anti trade discussions there “alarming”
“No American President has distinguished himself as great by closing doors and putting up walls and kicking out foreigners.”
The United States will be free to start trade action one year after the last agreement expired; on October 12th 2016.
w/ files from George Henderson MY CARIBOO NOW
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