The Vancouver Sun reports in its Thursday edition that the chances of Canada and the United States agreeing on a lumber deal seem more remote than ever after the Canadian government accused some U.S. senators of making "inaccurate" claims. The Sun's Peter O'Neil writes that one trade analyst said the likelihood of a settlement has diminished following Barack Obama's visit as President in June for the Three Amigos summit. "The best chance Canada had to reach a new softwood agreement was during Obama's recent visit to Canada," said Naomi Christensen of the Canada West Foundation. "This late in the game, it would take political will from both leaders to make a deal happen." She says the U.S. lumber lobby is gearing up to have tariffs imposed on Canadian softwood crossing the border when the litigation freeze lifts in October. Even if the U.S. does not have a solid legal case to argue before the WTO or NAFTA, dispute resolution before international tribunals will take two years after duties are imposed on Canadian imports. "The U.S. industry has an incentive to lobby for duties because even if they are found to be illegal ... it is the U.S. government, not industry, that would be on the hook for repayment," she said.