U.S. lumber industry challenges free-trade process

[CHIMO]

WASHINGTON (CP) — The U.S. lumber industry filed court papers Tuesday in a constitutional challenge to the way disputes are settled under the continental free-trade deal.

The challenge, first announced in September by the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, is part of wider pitched battle over softwood lumber duty rates on Canadian imports that's been going on for years.

In its brief, the coalition says U.S. companies are deprived of their due process rights with a system under the North American Free Trade Agreement that permits panels which include Canadians deciding issues under U.S. law affecting American companies.

The system has unfairly allowed Canada to provide a massive aid package to an industry that is already subsidized, said coalition chairman Steve Swanson.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1137538219584&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

[applegrove]

1. Yup. Neocons in practice. Trash our industry then ride on in and buy up

the mess that is left - at Rock Bottom Prices! All the while breaking the letter of the Free Trade Agreement.

[tuvor]

2. How many years did it take them to decide they didn't like the rules?

As many years as it took them to realize they couldn't win with them.

I'll pretend I'm feeling charitable right now, and describe them as a disingenuous lot.

[wordpix2]

3. boohoo, these corps cut every last tree in the NFs, I can't hear them now