Ethics Newsline®

Special to Newsline from Canadian correspondent Errol P. Mendes

NEW YORK
The Canadian government has launched a legal action in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York against the Byrd Amendment, which allows U.S. competitors to receive duties imposed on Canadian goods by U.S. trade authorities who claim the Canadian products were unfairly subsidized or dumped in the U.S. markets.

Canada is arguing that the law violates the North American Free Trade Agreement and that there should be a stop to U.S. companies profiting from duties imposed on Canadian imports.

The Canadian Wheat Board and representatives from the Canadian softwood lumber industry have joined the Canadian government in the legal action.

The Byrd Amendment has been held in violation by the World Trade Organization, which has authorized the European Union, Brazil, and other countries to also retaliate against U.S. goods if the law is not repealed.