QUEBEC FOREST INDUSTRY COUNCIL ANGERED BY COMMERCE LUMBER

UNCLAS QUEBEC 000224 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR AND COMMERCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD CA ECON EAGR SUBJECT: QUEBEC FOREST INDUSTRY COUNCIL ANGERED BY COMMERCE LUMBER DECISION REF: VANCOUVER 1674 (SBU) In a terse Dec. 16 conversation with CG, Quebec Forest Industry Council Director for International Trade Marc Boutin said the outcome of the Department of Commerce's review of the AC/CVD orders on softwood lumber was a "bad surprise" and that Quebec industry was "extremely disappointed." Boutin said it was clear that the Commerce review began with a "result in search of a methodology." The methodology made no sense and was not legal, he charged. The fact that the review was less severe toward Quebec than other provinces did nothing to change Quebec's discontent, he concluded. FRIEDMAN