Quebec announces plan to help forestry sector in wake of U.S. duties
QUEBEC — The Quebec government is offering as much as $300 million in loans and loan guarantees to help protect the province’s forestry sector against softwood lumber duties levied by the United States.
Three cabinet ministers made the announcement Tuesday after the Americans had said they were imposing duties of up to 24 per cent on lumber imports.
Economy Minister Dominique Anglade said the U.S. move, while expected, was both “unjustifiable” and “unreasonable.”
To these duties could come anti-dumping duties expected June 23, said Raymond Chretien, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States and the province’s envoy on softwood lumber talks.