Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) today praised British Columbia for putting forward its idea on how to resolve the softwood lumber trade dispute and reiterated its call for the two countries to resume negotiations. "We applaud the B.C. government for taking a leadership role and for trying to move the parties toward a negotiated long-term solution," said Steven R. Rogel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Weyerhaeuser. "We believe their approach warrants further discussion between the two countries." Last month Rogel proposed a two-step solution to the trade dispute. As a first step until the two countries can negotiate a long-term agreement, Weyerhaeuser would substitute a sliding scale export tax for duties now levied by the United States. In addition, the firm's proposal would temporarily halt legal activities to give both sides "breathing room" to negotiate a long-term solution, which would include provincial policy changes. "Although there are differences between our proposal and B.C.'s, more impressive are the areas and themes where we find ourselves in agreement," said Rogel. "There is now more engagement on this file than there has been in the last six months. We believe this engagement is critical to achieving a long-term resolution, and we encourage others to advance their ideas for discussion as well. "More importantly," Rogel continued, "British Columbia's announcement underscores the urgency of this issue. The current situation is untenable. The two governments need to agree to resume negotiations and get this issue solved in a way that's fair to all." Rogel said that Weyerhaeuser recognizes a "quick fix" is not possible. But he said the company remains committed to doing what it can to motivate both sides to return to the negotiating table to achieve a long-term solution. Rogel and other key company executives recently met with government and industry officials in Canada and the United States to discuss the company's proposal and other ways to resolve the decades-old dispute. Complete details of Weyerhaeuser's solution are available on the company's website, www.weyerhaeuser.com or at www.softwoodlumberissue.com. Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 2001, sales were Cdn$22.5 billion (US$14.5 billion). It has offices or operations in 18 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities.