Going it alone on softwood lumber:U.S. allegations against New Brunswick dissolve region's united front

摘要

Tough new allegations by the U.S. lumber industry are threatening the Atlantic region's longtime exemption from tariffs on softwood lumber, and forcing the four provincial govern-ments to radically change their strategies. Atlantic Lumber Producers, the industry organization set up to present a united front in this trade battle, has disintegrated, and New Brunswick producers have established their own group. This has happened because, for the first time, New Brunswick is being ac-cused of subsidizing its softwood lumber industry. If the allegation is upheld by a U.S. Department of Commerce in-vestigation, any lumber headed from New Brunswick to the United States would be hit with heavy duties at the border as early as this spring.