Wyden Statement On End Of US-Canada Softwood Lumber Standstill Period

WASHINGTON -- Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on efforts to resolve longstanding differences between the United States and Canada over subsidies to Canadian lumber production. A one-year pause on filing new trade cases over softwood subsidies ends at midnight tonight.

“Unless Canada can fulfill the principles agreed to by its Prime Minister and President Obama in July, it may soon be too late to strike an agreement on softwood lumber trade,” Wyden said. “I have seen first-hand the impact of unfair trade on workers and families in Oregon’s timber economy.  I continue to believe a negotiated resolution would be the best outcome for all sides, but if an agreement cannot be reached to stem the flood of Canadian lumber, I will ensure that this administration- and the next – fully enforce U.S. trade laws to crack down on unfair trade.”

In July, Wyden led a coalition of 25 senators who called on any new softwood lumber agreement with Canada to include strong protections for American lumber jobs and mills.

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