U.S. files challengeof softwood ruling

WASHINGTON – The government followed through Wednesday on a last-ditch appeal of a trade ruling that threatens to undercut stiff U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office announced it is asking for an extraordinary challenge committee under the North American Free Trade Agreement to examine a NAFTA panel finding that Canadian lumber imports represent no threat of injury to U.S. producers.

The binational NAFTA panel ruled unanimously in September against the U.S. International Trade Commission’s arguments that forestry policies in Canada subsidized lumber exports, which justified imposing the duties.