US and Canada reach deal on timber row.

(From Business Recorder)

US and Canadian officials on Thursday agreed to end a longstanding, bitter, 4.5 billion dollar trade row over softwood construction lumber tariffs. "I am delighted to announce to you that we have reached an agreement that will finally put an end to the softwood lumber dispute," Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told lawmakers in the House of Commons.

"The United States has agreed to provide Canadian producers with unrestricted access under current market conditions," he said. "This means no quotas, no tariffs."

The United States claimed in 2002 that Canada subsidised its lumber and has collected 4.5 billion dollars in …