Baucus Applauds Steps to Enforce Softwood Lumber Agreement

Letter to President Obama Commends Duties on Canadian Lumber Imports

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today applauded the President’s decision to strongly enforce the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA). In March 2009, an international panel ordered Canada to provide the United States CDN $68.26 million (approximately U.S. $54.8 million) in compensation for breaching its SLA obligations. Despite the panel’s decision, Canada failed to properly compensate the United States. In his letter to the President, Baucus commended the President’s decision to take swift action on enforcement, and apply duties to softwood lumber imports from Canada.

“I strongly support the President’s quick action to enforce the Softwood Lumber Agreement,” Baucus said. “It’s unfortunate that Canada failed to step up to the plate and comply with the LCIA’s decision. But the President’s decision to impose duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports shows that vigorous enforcement can make our international trade agreements work.”

###

• Print
• Email
• Tweet