Lumber Producers Want To See North American Trade Deal Ratified Soon
Lumber producers in New Brunswick are calling on Parliament to ratify the new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The trilateral free trade agreement, which has already been ratified by the U.S. and Mexico, is still being studied by a House of Commons standing committee.
In a statement, the New Brunswick Lumber Producers (NBLP) said ratification may allow for a final settlement in the ongoing softwood lumber dispute.
“Currently, the majority of NBLP members are paying a crippling duty of over 20 percent on exports to the United States,” said the NBLP.
The NBLP said this is a “severe disadvantage” for producers who have long been recognized as operators within a free and fair trade forest system.
“Ratification will not only lead to bigger markets for Canada but may allow for a final settlement of the softwood lumber dispute and more opportunity for lumber producers in rural New Brunswick,” the group said.
Jerome Pelletier, the chair of the NBLP, declined our request for an interview about the topic.
The New Brunswick Lumber Producers represent 95 percent of the softwood lumber produced in the province.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland urged her fellow MPs to ratify the new agreement as quickly as possible.
Brad Perry is the news director for CHSJ/Country 94, a Huddle content partner.