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William Amos went to Washington to discuss the softwood lumber issue

William Amos went to Washington to discuss the softwood lumber issue

19 March 2019 à 12:00 am

According to a press release, the Pontiac Member of Parliament, Will Amos spent two days in Washington, D.C., to represent the Pontiac views on the ongoing Canada-US softwood lumber dispute and trade issues.
“It was important for me to get an update on this crucial forestry trade file, and to bring the perspective of our forestry industry workers and small business owners to members of Congress and our embassy” Amos said. According to the release, MP Amos met in person with Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, David McNaughton, and was briefed by embassy officials on the status of the ongoing litigation proceeding.

” Canada’s position is that U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber are unfair, illegal and unwarranted. Pontiac forestry workers – from Maniwaki to Low to Mansfield – are backing Canada as we bring our legal challenges against the U.S. duties through 5 separate NAFTA and WTO proceedings. We have succeeded in past softwood lumber litigation and we expect positive results as early as this spring. With litigation wins, Canada will have a stronger bargaining position, as we encourage our American counterparts to come to a durable negotiated agreement on softwood lumber. We want a good deal for Canada, not just any deal, and right now the U.S. isn’t seriously negotiating” William Amos said.

Amos also met Congressman TJ Cox, a Democrat from California, and the senior advisor to Congresswoman Katie Hill. Both represent districts that export hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods and services to Canada each year. Finally, Will Amos met a number of NGOs involved in the fight against climate change.