BC Says US Lumber Market Might Become Redundant

BC's Jobs Minister is hailing the extension of the softwood lumber agreement with the United States noting it buys BC time.

Pat Bell says by the time the two years runs out on the extension of the deal as far as BC is concerned the American market might become "redundant."

Bell says as BC's market for softwood lumber continues to grow in the Asian countries it will mean less relying on the American market.

He says "All of those markets are taking a greater share of BC's softwood lumber as that continues to occur the US becomes less relevant from our perspective and if they wish to enter into any sort of trade disputes we will have pressure release valves in other countries."

Bell says the model of the deal means the United States is no longer the judge, jury, and executioner in any trade dispute.