Senior representatives from the British Columbia Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) and officials from the Government of BC met in Washington, D.C., this week for four days of critical hearings for the long-standing softwood lumber dispute. “America’s softwood lumber duties are unfair in every measure,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests.  Premier Eby and I also recently urged the federal government to elevate the softwood lumber dispute to the highest-level priority.” From Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, until Friday, Sept.13, 2024, the first Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) dispute settlement panel heard arguments from all parties regarding the countervailing duty determination for the first administrative review. …Kurt Niquidet, president, BC Lumber and Trade Council said “The appeal process is an essential part of CUSMA that needs to occur in a timely fashion to ensure fair trade with our most important trading partner. Delays in the process have made it increasingly difficult for companies across Canada.