Hopeful signs of a breakthrough in the US-Canadian softwood lumber dispute were indicated during a series of meetings between the two countries’ trade officials.
British Columbia’s forests minister Mike de Jong said he was optimistic following the latest round of meetings in Vancouver.
The British Columbia government presented a list of suggested reforms to its timber pricing and logging policies with the intention of addressing the concerns of US producers who believe softwood exported from Canada is subsidised.
The reforms include changing to a more market-sensitive pricing of timber felled from Crown land.
Canadian producers stand to lose more than C$1bn a year in new duties imposed by the US on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
More meetings were due to take place in Montreal this week.
