Softwood fight

Three of the four Atlantic Provinces may be exempted from the latest round of tariffs by Washington.

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has issued a statement that shipments of softwood lumber from Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador should be excluded from anti-dumping and countervailing duties.  The statement makes no mention of New Brunswick.   A final decision on the matter is expected by late summer.

In the meantime, the Trump government has added another 6.87% on average to the anti-dumping duty.

Travel ban partially reinstated

President Trump’s travel ban on people from six mostly Muslim countries has been partially reinstated by the Supreme Court.

The Trudeau Government says it’s waiting for more details on the decision and how it will affect Canadians with dual citizenship from the affected countries, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.  However, Ottawa is advising all people planning to travel to the U-S to verify admission requirements ahead of time.