Frustration continues when it comes to the softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the U.S.
This comes as the U.S. International Trade Commission sided with the U.S. Lumber Coalition in a unanimous vote, that the import of lumber hurts the american industry.
President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industry Susan Yurkovich says Canada is planning on appeal their decision.
“We have to fight these things through the bodies we have available to us and we are working very closely with the province of British Columbia and the government of Canada to do that and we have been very successful in fighting this, we’re very good at fighting this. It’s just frustrating to be here again.”
Last month the U.S. Commerce Department lowered preliminary duties, which will now see most Canadians pay a combined countervailing and anti-dumping rate of 20.83 per cent.
“I’m a little stunned and incredulous that they could find there industry is being injured when they are in fact experiencing record setting profitability in the industry. Demand is very strong prices are very high. It just reminds me that this is a process that is clearly biest in favour of the U.S.Industry.”
If an issues isn’t resolved there is a fear of job loss in Northern BC where the lumber industry thrives, but Yurkovich says the only ones who are hurting from this decision are the U.S. consumers.