Softwood lumber battle reignited

[CHIMO]

A new front is set to open in the softwood lumber war, with the U.S. accusing B.C. of under-pricing trees harvested for export.

The U.S. alleges that the surging volume of mountain-beetle-killed pine harvested on Crown land for cut-rate prices by lumber producers in B.C.’s interior violates the Softwood Lumber Agreement signed in 2006.

Representatives of the Canadian and U.S. governments have had one face-to-face meeting – little or no progress was made, sources said – and the U.S. can request formal arbitration as soon as Thursday.

In a formal complaint made last month, Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade Representative, alleged that the increase “does not appear to be justified” under the softwood agreement, “even when known factors affecting timber quality in B.C. (such as the mountain pine beetle) are taken fully into consideration.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/softwood-lumber-battle-reignited/article1798538/

Screw lumber. We don't need it anymore. We now have a petro dollar.