Canadian International Trade Minister David Emerson Friday welcomed a NAFTA panel decision that affirms the U.S. Department of Commerce's finding that Canadian softwood lumber production is not subsidized.

"Resolving the softwood lumber dispute is my top priority," said Emerson in a press release. "Today's panel decision will strengthen our position as we move forward on the softwood lumber file."

Canada's battle with the United States over softwood lumber tariffs has been raging since 2002.

The U.S. Commerce Department issued a determination late last year, saying that the Canadian softwood lumber was subsidized at a level not high enough to impose countervailing duties.

Canadian exporters currently pay a countervailing duty rate of 8.7 percent. It is estimated that Canadian softwood lumber companies have paid over 5.2 billion Canadian dollars (about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars) since 2002 in countervailing duties and anti- dumping duties.

Source: Xinhua