U. S. app eals softwood ruling to WTO app eals body

International Trade Minister Mary Ng, shown, said Monday it is extremely disappointing that the United States has decided to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against its softwood- lumber duties, particularly because the U. S. is making it impossible for that appeal to be heard. The WTO ruled in August the U. S.’s import duties on Canadian softwood violate international trading rules because the U.S. cannot prove that Canada is unfairly subsidizing its softwood producers by undercharging for wood coming off government land. Ng says the U. S. decision to appeal is confusing since earlier this year the U. S. decided the WTO appeal body did not need to exist. It has refused to appoint new members, leaving it without enough people to operate.