Forest and Environment News:

Softwood Lumber Update – The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel decision regarding the West Fraser Mills Ltd. lumber duties was announced. The decision found that the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) determination that it was not required to refund duties paid by West Fraser is inconsistent with U.S. law. The NAFTA panel has ordered the DOC to issue a new determination within 30 days. Read the release: Nafta Panel Finds U.S. Anti-Dumping Determination Illegal

Second CVD Administrative Review – The preliminary determination in the second Administrative Review (AR2) was released on June 1, 2005. Final rates are expected in December 2005; until then, companies continue to post cash deposits at the current rate of 20.15%. See the release: Legal Proceedings in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

Challenge to the First Administrative Review Results on Subsidy (CVD) – On January 18, 2005, Canada requested a NAFTA panel review the US Department of Commerce’s Final Results of the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review. The filing of this challenge ensured that all duty deposits to date remain undistributed until this challenge is finished. See the June 13, 2005 update: NAFTA Challenges and Decisions.

Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic expected to Peak in 2005 – According to a new report by Canadian and BC forest service scientists, the mountain pine beetle epidemic is expected to peak in 2006. It is projected that 90 million cubic meters of timber will be killed by 2006 and 40% of the susceptible pine will have been either killed or harvested. See the Provincial-level Projection of the Current Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak report.

Local Government News:

Federal Government Investing $7 Million In BC Harbours – The federal government will invest $6.9 million in repairs to federal small craft harbours in the Skeena Bulkley Valley and throughout the Pacific Region. See the Fisheries and Oceans News Release.