WTO PANEL DECISION ON SOFTWOOD ANTI-DUMPING DETERMINATION

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April 13, 2004No. 57 A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel issued a report today finding that the United States Department of Commerce anti-dumping determination regarding softwood lumber was inconsistent with its WTO obligations. "We are pleased that the WTO ruled in our favour on the key issue in the case," said Jim Peterson, Minister of International Trade. "We urge the U.S. to comply with this ruling." Dumping is the sale of goods in a foreign market at prices below those charged for comparable sales in the home market or below the cost of producing the goods. The Panel found in favour of Canada on the issue of zeroing. Zeroing is the practice of assigning a margin of zero to goods for which the export price exceeds the home market price. This difference is also referred to as "a negative dumping margin." Zeroing prevents the negative margin for one category of goods from offsetting a margin of dumping for another category of goods, thus inflating the overall dumping margin. The Panel found in favour of the United States on a number of other issues. This report refers to the 8.43 percent anti-dumping duty imposed in May 2002 on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States. This decision follows a key victory at the WTO on March 22. A panel ruled in its final report that the injury determination issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission did not meet its international obligations. A NAFTA panel is also set to rule on threat of injury on April 30. The Government of Canada is continuing to work with the provinces and industry on its two-track strategy of litigation and negotiations to find a lasting resolution to this dispute. For more information regarding softwood lumber issues in general, please visit: http://www.softwoodlumber.gc.ca. The WTO panel report is available at http://www.wto.org. - 30 - For further information, media representatives may contact: Jacqueline LaRocque Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Trade (613) 992-7332 Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada (613) 995-1874 http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

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2016-12-15

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WTO PANEL DECISION ON SOFTWOOD ANTI-DUMPING DETERMINATION

News Release

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