Lumber campaign suspended
Jean Chretien not expected to mention the trade dispute when he meets U.S. leaders next week to discuss security concerns Peter O'Neil
Copyright 2001 Vancouver Sun
September 19, 2001
OTTAWA -- The federal government won't abandon the softwood lumber industry and workers even though it has sharply altered its strategy in dealing with a U.S. government now focused on terrorism and war, Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew vowed Tuesday. Federal and provincial governments have suspended a public relations campaign that was intended to pressure the American government to back off on its punishing 19.3-per-cent interim duty imposed in early August. And Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who only last month was pressuring U.S. President George W. Bush to support Canada's position, is not expected to mention the trade feud when he meets Bush in Washington next week to discuss security issues. The Canadian Alliance has also acknowledged it isn't appropriate to bring up a divisive matter between the two countries and has withdrawn its call for an emergency debate on softwood lumber. But Canadian and U.S. senior officials are meeting this week in Toronto, and Pettigrew said the government is still fighting on behalf of those who have lost jobs, including an estimated 10,000 in B.C. "Our government has different priorities in our relationship with the United States given the elements of last Tuesday. So you would expect my speeches and my words on softwood lumber and trade issues in general to reflect the general priories of our government," Pettigrew said. "But the softwood lumber issue is still a very important one and we are doing due diligence on it." B.C. Forests Minister Mike de Jong, in Toronto for a meeting of provincial forests ministers, said he's "cautiously, guardedly optimistic" that a long-term agreement is within sight. He said it was obvious that the public relations campaign, which was to include speeches, interviews with U.S. media and possibly advertising, couldn't be undertaken in the shadow of a tragedy. "I think any reasonable person would understand that the political leadership in the U.S. at the moment is somewhat preoccupied with another matter." John Ragosta, a spokesman for the U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, said the ceasefire on rhetoric and sabre-rattling could help negotiations. "Hopefully it helps the tone but I don't think it changes the substance of the issue for anyone." Officials in Toronto are discussing, among other things, ways to alter B.C.'s forest management practices in a way that will deal with U.S. allegations that the industry is heavily subsidized, said John Allan, president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council. But he said the provincial government and industry won't give in to U.S. demands to completely abandon the tenure system and simply allow logs to be auctioned off. Canada is still battling the U.S. duty before the World Trade Organization, but the WTO moves slowly and the industry is bracing for another hit next month when the U.S. is expected to impose an additional anti-dumping duty. Allan said the B.C. industry wants to look at possible negotiated solutions, such as an agreement to replace the duty with a export tax in order to keep the money in Canada. The Quebec industry has so far objected to any negotiated settlement. Federal officials say it's unlikely there will be a settlement until the U.S. Congress gives Bush fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements. That could happen by early October.