The Softwood Lumber War: A U.S.-Canadian Trade Dispute

Daowei Zhang, Professor of Forest Economics and Policy Auburn University, AL, USA

Date: Friday, March 28, 2008

*NEW* - The presentation is now available on our website, in PDF format. Please visit our
Publications page, under "Presentations"; also directly available by clicking here.

This presentation is based on a new book about the political economy of the long U.S.-Canada softwood lumber trade dispute. Dubbed the Softwood Lumber War, the conflict enveloped politicians and business leaders on both sides of the border and placed strains on the historically close economic and political relations between the two countries. Neither NAFTA nor WTO dispute settlement mechanism could settle the war. This presentation covers the cause of the dispute, highlights six puzzles, provides an explanation for its longevity, and speculates what is going to happen in the future.

Daowei Zhang is a Professor of Forest Economics and Policy at Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Dr. Zhang served on the Board of Director of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation (2000-2006), the Editorial Board of Southern Journal of Applied Forestry (2002-2005), Auburn University Graduate Council, and Auburn University Senate (2000-2003). He is serving on the Editorial Board of Forest Science and the Auburn University Center for Forest Sustainability Executive Committee. He has taught Forest Policy, Forest Industry Economics, Advanced Forest Economics, and Advanced Forest Policy. His research interests are the economic and policy aspects of natural resource management. Specifically he is interested in property rights, environmental policy, political economy, institutional economics, forest products trade, forest investment and finance, land use, industrial and non-industrial private forest management, forest-based economic development, and international forestry.