August 26, 2020 3:20 a.m.

Congressman Peter DeFazio has blasted the World Trade Organization’s ruling against the U.S. in a dispute over U.S. duties imposed on softwood lumber imports.

A release said a WTO dispute settlement panel claims that the U.S. inappropriately applied countervailing duties designed to counter pervasive Canadian subsidies on Canadian softwood lumber.

DeFazio said “For year’s Southwest Oregon’s timber industry has been forced to compete with Canada’s heavily subsidized industry, putting U.S. businesses at a severe disadvantage”. He said that yet again, the WTO is allowing Canada to use its “…unfair trade practices to shield itself from fair market prices, and putting the profits of multinational corporations, above the interests of American workers”.

DeFazio said he is pleased that United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has rejected the ruling. DeFazio said he will continue to urge the Trump administration to do everything it can to support U.S. producers who are battling Canadian subsidies – including withdrawing from the WTO.

The release said in May, DeFazio introduced legislation to formally withdraw the United States from the WTO. In the quarter century since the U.S. joined the WTO. America has lost roughly five million manufacturing jobs and sixty thousand factories have closed. DeFazio’s efforts to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, was blocked by House leadership, according to the release.

Oregon is the largest producer of softwood in the United States. The lumber industry supports roughly 750,000 jobs across the country, according to the release.