The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that faced with investigations by the U.S. International Trade Commission and a protectionist president in the White House, Canada's softwood lumber sector faces a tough future. The Globe's Josh O'Kane writes that the recent expiration of the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement leaves a lot hanging in the balance. Some see a year ahead with a familiar, and potentially costly, step backward. Others see a chance to stake a Canadian claim in Mr. Trump's economic vision. With home construction on the rise, Canadian lumber could play a key role in president-elect Donald Trump's efforts to boost the U.S. economy. U.S. housing starts hit a nine-year high in October, which has prompted optimism from some including Susan Yurkovich at the B.C. Council of Forest Industries. "I think the Trump administration is going to be pragmatic," she said. "It's going to look at what is going to harm the economy, or not, and I think ... softwood lumber is a very significant input into growing the economy." Seth Kursman at Resolute Forest Products in Montreal points to Mr. Trump's goal of raising U.S. annual GDP growth to 4 per cent or higher as an opportunity for Canada.