BRUSSELS- The US is interesting on the World Trade Organization in opposition to a ruling that largely favored Canada in a long-running dispute over lumber, placing the case right into a authorized void.
A 3-person WTO panel decided in August that U.S. duties, designed to counter Canadian subsidies on softwood lumber, breached international buying and selling guidelines.
The US notified the WTO on Monday that it had determined to enchantment.
Nonetheless, Washington has blocked appointments to the WTO’s Appellate Physique, leaving it with too few members to listen to such appeals. The Canada case will consequently sit in authorized limbo.
The US mentioned the panel ruling was deeply flawed, including it was open to discussions with Canada to resolve the dispute.
Canada mentioned that the enchantment to a physique paralyzed by Washington had denied Canada of its rights and compounded the unfair therapy accorded to Canadian softwood lumber producers.
“These duties have triggered unjustified hurt to Canadian business and U.S. shoppers alike, and are impeding financial restoration on either side of the border,” Canada‘s commerce minister Mary Ng mentioned in an announcement, including Canada would hold difficult the duties by means of all obtainable avenues.
— Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, further reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa, Modifying by Angus MacSwan
