International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced at a news conference in May that the federal government would spend $20 million over the next two years in promoting Canada's position in the softwood lumber dispute and other trade issues.
The money is to be spent on an advertising campaign to try to influence Americans, publicizing the fact that Americans are being hurt by the 27.2 per cent countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber. The countervailing duty of 18.79 per cent and anti-dumping duty averaging 8.43 per cent started on May 22 on all Canadian softwood lumber crossing the U.S. border.
