The National Post reports in its Thursday edition that Canada launched the opening salvo in a trade war with the United States Wednesday, lodging an international complaint about the superpower's use of punitive duties. The Post's Jesse Snyder writes that the move drew a sharp rebuke from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and came amid reports that Canadian government officials say there is an increasing likelihood President Donald Trump will withdraw from the North American free-trade agreement.
Mr. Lighthizer said: "Even if Canada succeeded on these groundless claims, other countries would primarily benefit, not Canada. Canada's complaint is bad for Canada. ... Canada's claims are unfounded and could only lower U.S. confidence that Canada is committed to mutually beneficial trade."
Canada lodged a World Trade Organization complaint accusing the U.S. of regularly breaching international trade laws through various countervailing and anti-dumping duties, citing nearly 200 examples spanning several decades.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said, "This WTO action is part of our broader litigation to defend the hundreds of thousands of good, middle class forestry jobs across our country."
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