The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Aug. 26, edition that a trade dispute between the United States and Canada over softwood lumber is escalating, raising the spectre of higher tariffs as officials play down the likelihood of reaching a deal before an October deadline. A Bloomberg dispatch to The Globe reports that President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directed their governments at a June meeting in Ottawa to push forward and reach accord on the issue. Officials began two days of talks in Washington on Wednesday, the fourth round of negotiations since the leaders met. Optimism is fading. Canada's ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, and the country's chief softwood lumber negotiator, Martin Moen, have each said this month the sides remain far apart. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland signalled the same, saying Canada would rather go past the October deadline than settle for a bad deal. Ms. Freeland says: "We're not going to be bound by any particular deadline. We're going to try and reach an agreement, and we're working hard now in the fall to do that." If the deadline is missed, the U.S. is expected to begin a process to enact new tariffs.