Coleman Optimistic on Softwood

By 250 News

There may be a  need for minor tweaks, but Minister of Forests and Range, Rich Coleman, thinks the softwood deal would be supported across the country.

He is aware  the industry is still  talking it over, but says  the lumber industry has to start  looking at the what "makes" the deal, he says it's time to focus "Quite coming up with something every week  that you think you would like to add into this thing, focus on the real fundamentals of the trade deal" says the Minister.

He says a lot of things the industry expresses concerns over, can be managed within our country and don't really belong  in the trade deal.

Coleman says comments by Trade Minister David Emerson  that the softwood deal may not go to Parliament were unfortunate.  "I think that  may have been a statement out of frustration in front of a committee 'cause the reality is, it is very close to fundamentally being the deal we want."

Coleman  says  there were four main issues B.C. wanted covered, but he beleives two  can be managed  internally.  The remaining concerns are:  logs from private lands at the Coast.  That's an issue Coleman says has created a  rift in the  U.S. Lumber Coalition because producers in the Southeast don't want to discuss it while their partners in Washington and Oregon States want it dealt with.  The final point is  a "standstill" at the end of the agreement  which Coleman says is very important. He says at the end of 7 years,  he would like to see a standstill "Where nobody does any litigation and nobody puts any  anti-dumping duties in place, so you have free trade for a year.  That will develop the fundamentals of pricing so you can negotiate the next deal."

Coleman  still thinks  the deal is the best we will see "I've been in this thing since the beginning,and I look at the history  of softwood in Canada and fundamentally, this is the best deal this country has ever seen."

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