Tester Praises Ruling in Softwood Lumber Dispute as ‘win for good-paying jobs in rural Montana’

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement after the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of U.S. sanctions on unfair Canadian trade practices.

“This is a win for good-paying jobs in rural Montana,” Tester said. “We need to continue to hold trading partners accountable when they intentionally undermine Montana businesses. That’s why I called on the International Trade Commission to crack down on Canada’s unfair timber subsidies that harm one of our state’s most important industries.”

• Tester has long fought to level the playing field for Montana lumber producers when it comes to trade with Canada.
• In September of 2017, Tester testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission about this very issue, urging the commission to hold Canada fully accountable for their unfair trade practices that were flooding the market with cheap, subsidized softwood lumber.
• In December of 2017, Tester applauded the Commission for its decision to impose these anti-dumping tariffs.