Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

Guess Who Belongs to the U.S. Lumber Lobby...

By 250 News

We now know positively who is on the US lumber lobby. The Washington based law firm for the U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, accidentally sent part of the list to the media.

Until till now the files on the duties have been penned as coming from Unions and a few regional lumber associations. International Pulp and Paper is the name of the company that jumps out at first, given the fact it is the largest company in the world, with, I might add, extensive holdings in Canada.

On one hand this giant has been hoping to collect some of the 5 billion dollars to be paid to the US lumber companies, while at the same time operating north of the border from where that same lumber is being shipped.

It is a classic tale of grabbing the gold from both ends.

The release of the list also had one more dimension. It reveals that a lot of opposition exists from mills that are operating in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The Globe and Mail obtained a copy of the list which shows members include not only lumber mills but land developers, forestry consultants and a merger and acquisitions company.

It raises the issue that perhaps at least some of those in the US Coalition had in mind to first bury the Canadian producers and then show up on the door step with the money they had obtained from the duties with a view to buying them out.

There have been lots of rumours about who made up that coalition but there was never anything “Official”. Well, we know now, don’t we.

I’m Meisner and that is one man’s opinion.

Previous Story - Next Story



Return to Home