Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Walter Bradley said today the new softwood lumber agreement between Canada and the United States involves some conditions for exporters from this region.
The new five year agreement took effect on April 1, and the Maritime Provinces have been exempted from export fees or duties. Exports from this region, however, will have to be accompanied by a certificate of origin.
"This certificate is necessary if lumber exports from this region are to maintain the duty-free status which the Maritime lumber industry and governments have negotiated," said Mr. Bradley. "Firms and individuals wishing to ship softwood lumber products to the U.S. will have to provide a certificate of origin guaranteeing that the products were produced from logs harvested in the Maritime Provinces."
The certificates of origin are available from the Maritime Lumber Bureau in Amherst.
Mr. Bradley said exporters should contact either the MLB or his department to confirm which products other than lumber may require a certificate. He said, for example, turned fence posts may require a certificate but prefabricated fencing materials may not.
"The added paper work is a small price to pay for guarantees of trade security for the next five years," he said.
Firms and individuals requiring certificates of origin must first register with the MLB. This can be obtained by calling the MLB office at (902)667-3889.