Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports comments on public statements concerning softwood lumber agreement

Apr 13, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. On April 12 the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports urged parties involved with the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) to seek to ensure full compliance with the agreement. This, the Coalition commented, is the key to making the SLA a workable, lasting alternative to litigation.

Recent public statements suggest that the SLA is not durable because it is overly complicated and U.S. parties are needlessly questioning Canadian government compliance with the agreement. The allegation has also been repeated that disagreements are attributable to a supposed lack of competitiveness on the part of the U.S. lumber industry. Coalition chairman Steve Swanson stated,

"The SLA is a compromise, and we would have much preferred fully open and competitive Canadian timber markets as the solution to the unfair trade problem. But the SLA can and should be an enduring solution if its requirements are observed. The Canadian government presently is not applying export measures as required by the agreement, and provinces are providing forbidden subsidies. It is imperative that these issues be resolved quickly, and we support ongoing efforts to resolve them." Mr. Swanson continued, "Independent studies confirm that U.S. sawmills are among the most efficient in the world. All that we have ever requested is a level playing field. Open and competitive Canadian timber markets would provide that. It is disappointing to see the competitiveness red herring repeated again."

The U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports is an alliance of large and small lumber producers from around the country, joined by hundreds of thousands of their employees, and tens of thousands of woodland owners. The Coalition is united in opposition to Canada's unfair lumber-trade practices, including its gross under-pricing of timber.