David Eby
B.C. Premier David Eby says he had a “frank discussion” with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra about the cross-border softwood lumber dispute and tariffs. Eby says he and Hoekstra didn’t agree on everything at their meeting on Tuesday, but he says both expressed hopes for a “positive outcome to trade negotiations” between Canada and the United States. Hoekstra was peppered with questions as he walked away from the B.C. legislature after the meeting, leaving unanswered queries about the lumber dispute and B.C.’s ban on American-made liquor. …”The conversation included a frank discussion around what would be required to make progress on the softwood lumber dispute and tariffs,” Eby said. Various countervailing duties and tariffs on B.C.’s softwood lumber industry currently add up to 45 per cent. Eby said other topics included trade talks, B.C.’s ban on U.S. liquor, and co-operation on transnational crime and money laundering.
Related coverage by:
- Emily Fagin in CBC: BC premier met with US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra
- Andrew MacLeod in the Tyee: US Ambassador Claims a ‘Great Meeting’ with Eby – Softwood lumber tariffs were on the agenda