TORONTO, ONTARIO — John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, released the following joint statement today following the decision issued by a NAFTA Chapter 19 dispute panel:

“This decision makes clear that the underlying earlier U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) softwood lumber determination was riddled with serious errors.

As Ontario expected would be the case, the panel has directed the ITC to issue a new determination addressing several issues and findings that the ITC got wrong in their original investigation.

This also affirms that the imposition of the current countervailing duties against Canadian exports of softwood lumber are unjustified.

Ontario will continue to strongly defend its softwood lumber industry, communities and workers in this unwarranted and unfair dispute.

Softwood lumber produced in Ontario is an important part of the province’s economic relationship with the United States. And softwood lumber produced in Ontario has always been fairly traded across the U.S. border.

Ontario will continue to work closely with the federal government and other Canadian provinces on this critical trade issue.”