Hard-Knock Lumber Agreement Lessons

Published May 21, 2008

The September 2006 Canadian government press release announcing a softwood lumber deal with the U.S. described the agreement as "durable," but shaky might be a better adjective after two senators snuck a punitive lumber tariff administration clause into the massive Farm Bill on May 7.

The senators, Max Baucus of Montana and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, added an amendment to the omnibus Farm Bill during...