B.C. premier says Canada-U.S. close to deal on softwood; intense negotiations
VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier John Horgan says Canada and the United States are close to reaching a softwood lumber trade deal that could come as early as next month.
Horgan made the comments Thursday during a conference call from Washington, D.C., following two days of meetings with trade officials from President Donald Trump’s administration and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S.
Horgan said talks between Canada’s Foreign Affairs
Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross are ongoing and it appears they are close to reaching a market-share agreement.
“There have been intense negotiations between Mr. Ross and Minister Freeland, and they’re very close to an agreement but there are challenges with the representatives on the (U.S. Lumber) Coalition that brought the dispute to a head,” Horgan said.