The federal government in Ottawa is pushing back against the latest U.S. decision to keep imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

Canada has filed for a judicial review of last month香蕉视频直播檚 Commerce Department assessment of the levies, which International Trade Minister Mary Ng described in a statement as 香蕉视频直播渦nfair, unjust and illegal.香蕉视频直播�

Ng framed the move as an effort to escalate the concerns of exporters while adding an impetus on the U.S. to consider a negotiated solution to a dispute that has plagued Canada-U.S. relations for decades.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to continue to explore new ways (to resolve it), because the industry expects us, expects me and expects my government to 香蕉视频直播� (and) so do their workers,香蕉视频直播� she said Tuesday during a cabinet retreat in Charlottetown.

香蕉视频直播淚t would be much, much more preferable that we get to the negotiating table, and let香蕉视频直播檚 come together and let香蕉视频直播檚 have a deal. But in the meantime, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to use all the tools at our disposal to stand up for the industry.香蕉视频直播�

The latest administrative review by the U.S. Commerce Department resulted in a modest decrease in the so-called 香蕉视频直播渁ll others香蕉视频直播� combined duty rate, but kept it in place at 7.99 per cent.

In Canada, lumber-producing provinces set so-called stumpage fees for timber harvested from Crown land, a system that U.S. producers 香蕉视频直播� forced to pay market rates 香蕉视频直播� say amounts to an unfair subsidy.

It香蕉视频直播檚 not the first time Ng has pushed her U.S. counterparts to help hammer out a solution. But U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has said negotiations can only happen once Canada does away with its stumpage fee regime.

香蕉视频直播淲e continue to share with the Canadians that we are committed to the robust enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws,香蕉视频直播� Tai香蕉视频直播檚 office said in a statement.

Pushing back against 香蕉视频直播渦nfairly traded Canadian imports香蕉视频直播� remains a priority for the Biden administration, it added.

香蕉视频直播淲e are prepared to discuss another softwood lumber agreement when Canada is ready to address the underlying issues related to subsidization and fair competition so that Canadian lumber imports do not injure the U.S. industry.香蕉视频直播�

Canada, meanwhile, has successfully argued at World Trade Organization dispute panels in the past that its stumpage-fee system is not a subsidy, which is exactly why the government feels it remains in the right, Ng said.

香蕉视频直播淚 mean, it has ruled exactly that conclusion to Canada, which is why it香蕉视频直播檚 so important that Canada continues to defend our interests against these tariffs.香蕉视频直播�

The Commerce Department香蕉视频直播檚 fourth administrative review of the duties, announced last month, established a combined rate of 7.99 per cent, only slightly less than the 8.59 per cent established after its previous review.

That decision was cheered by U.S. lumber producers, who say the duties keep the playing field level south of the border and allow the domestic forestry and construction industries to thrive.

Such enforcement 香蕉视频直播渋s exactly what must happen for enduring expansion of U.S. lumber manufacturing and availability to meet demand to build more American homes,香蕉视频直播� said Andrew Miller, chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition.

香蕉视频直播淔ailure to fully enforce the trade laws would only undermine long-term confidence in expanding U.S. sawmilling capacity and jobs in the American softwood lumber industry.香蕉视频直播�

The U.S. industry 香蕉视频直播渞emains open香蕉视频直播� to a new agreement on softwood lumber, but Canadian producers have yet to agree on a 香蕉视频直播渦nified position香蕉视频直播� that would allow the two governments to negotiate one, the coalition says.

READ ALSO: Let香蕉视频直播檚 make a deal, Canada urges U.S. amid latest 香蕉视频直播榖aseless香蕉视频直播� softwood lumber duties