• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports: Quebec Government Loan Guarantee to Softwood Lumber Producer AbitibiBowater Violates Trade Agreement

Posted on: Friday, 17 April 2009, 16:14 CDT

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports today expressed deep disappointment regarding Quebec's announcement that it will provide government loan guarantees in clear violation of the Softwood Lumber Trade Agreement (SLA). The SLA specifically prohibits Canadian government authorities, including provincial governments, from providing "benefits" to companies that produce softwood lumber. AbitibiBowater is the 4th largest softwood lumber producer in Canada and the 8th largest in the world.

Steve Swanson, Chairman of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, stated that "this is unfortunately just the latest example of Canada disregarding its obligations under the Softwood Lumber Trade Agreement," further explaining that this development "comes on the heels of Canada blatantly ignoring a ruling of the London Court of International Arbitration that recently found Canada in violation of the trade agreement in a separate matter."

"Quebec admitted in its announcement that it is providing the subsidy to keep AbitibiBowater's mills operating," said Mr. Swanson, then added "as scores of U.S. sawmills close and workers lose their jobs, we will not stand for this type of artificial intervention in the market. It hurts us all."

Mr. Swanson concluded by stating that "the Coalition will work forcefully with the U.S. government to address this and other violations of the Softwood Lumber Trade Agreement as U.S. companies, workers, and their communities deserve nothing less than having our trade agreements honored and enforced."

About the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports

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. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.fairlumbercoalition.org.

SOURCE U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category