The Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports said the situation is artificially accelerating a market downturn for the North American lumber industry, causing “havoc” in the US lumber market and increasing job losses.
Coalition chairman Steve Swanson said the American government implemented the agreement on October 1. He said Canada’s delay was intolerable and threatened the settlement.
The Canadian government announced on September 29 that implementation of the agreement was being postponed “after close consultation with and in direct response to requests from industry”. It has shifted implementation back to no later than November 1.
All Canadian lumber companies have to cease legal action against the US as a condition of the agreement. But some cases are known to be still active
