SAINT JOHN, NB:  The 3.02% countervailing duty (CVD) for J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) announced by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) yesterday provides further support for all New Brunswick lumber producers to be excluded from these trade remedy proceedings.  This exclusion has existed for 35 years and nothing has changed. The application of the all others rate (19.88%) to NB mills will cause significant hardship and is not justified given the findings by the US DOC in reviewing JDI’s submissions.

JDI submitted more than 9000 pages of material to the US DOC as a voluntary respondent in the US CVD proceeding.  

Immediate and constructive negotiations by all parties should confirm the 35 year exemption of Atlantic Canadian producers that the US Department of Commerce has historically recognized.

New Brunswick’s forestry system has always been based on free and fair trade. Crown stumpage rates are reflective of this system.  This has not changed and should be recognized by the US Department of Commerce.

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Contact
Mary Keith
Vice President, Communications
J.D. Irving, Limited
(506) 632-5122 office
(506) 650-8209 cell
 keith.mary@jdirving.com