The Vancouver Sun reports in its Thursday edition that Canadian lumber and government officials have told the U.S. trade representative that any new softwood lumber agreement must reflect the differences in forestry regimes across the country. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Sun says that the heads of 10 lumber producers and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland met Wednesday with Michael Froman. Resolute chief executive officer Richard Garneau told her that changes to Quebec's forestry regime means the province should have free and open access to the U.S. market. Alexander Lawrence, a spokesman for Ms. Freeland, says Canada has indicated that any agreement must reflect "the realities of our softwood lumber sector, including differences in communities across Canada." Attending the meeting also were the CEOs of Canfor, West Fraser, Interfor, Tembec, J.D. Irving, Eacom, Tolko, MLTC Industrial Investments and Kalesnikoff Lumber. The meeting took place a week before the expiry of the 2006 softwood lumber agreement and a one-year standstill period on Oct. 12. Few industry observers expect that the Americans will budge from their quest for quotas to reduce Canada's share of the U.S. softwood lumber market.