New year, old trade wars: lumber, dairy disputes set for arbitration

Two of the thorniest trade disputes between Canada and the U.S. — on softwood lumber and dairy — are ready for a comeback in 2021 under the new NAFTA.

On Dec. 9, the U.S. requested formal consultations under the agreement's state-to-state dispute settlement rules (Chapter 31). Washington is challenging how Canada regulates 14 categories of dairy imports, such as cream, butter and cheese.

Outgoing United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer warned last June that the U.S. was unhappy, before the revised agreement had even come into force.

The big concessions President Donald Trump bragged about wringing out of Canada haven't amounted to much for American farmers...

This was excerpted from the 1 January 2020 edition of CBC News.