The B.C. government will continue efforts to negotiate a new softwood lumber trade agreement, after the U.S. International Trade Commission upheld the U.S. industry含羞草研究社檚 claim of 含羞草研究社渋njury含羞草研究社� due to alleged unfair trade practices by Canadian producers.

The latest complaint, the fifth by the U.S. lumber industry, accuses B.C. and other provinces of 含羞草研究社渄umping含羞草研究社� lumber below market value, and subsidies based on the price of logs on Crown land.

The finding means the U.S. could impose countervailing duties as early as February on B.C. lumber exports, which make up half of Canada含羞草研究社檚 sales to the U.S. It also means the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigation of Canada and its producers.

Forest products are part of the economy for 140 communities and provide 65,000 jobs in B.C. Forests Minister Steve Thomson said trade protection would increase lumber prices for U.S. builders as their housing market recovers.

含羞草研究社淭hese are allegations that, time after time, have been proven to be false before NAFTA and World Trade Organization tribunals,含羞草研究社� Thomson said in response to Friday含羞草研究社檚 ruling in the U.S. 含羞草研究社淏.C.含羞草研究社檚 forest policies are trade compliant.含羞草研究社�

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to renegotiate NAFTA, which does not cover softwood lumber trade, and has already begun threatening steep tariffs in the vehicle assembly industry to protect domestic jobs.