Legal draft of softwood deal may go to U.S. this week, lumber industry say

[tuvor]

VANCOUVER (CP) - The federal government hopes to submit a legal draft of a softwood lumber agreement to U.S. negotiators this week, lumber industry officials said Tuesday while criticizing what they see as needless, potentially dangerous haste to get a deal with the Americans.

Industry executives were given a copy of the draft late Saturday evening and asked to submit their comments by Tuesday afternoon, John Allan, president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, confirmed Tuesday.

"We have worked over the last two days, took advantage of yesterday not being a holiday in the U.S. to work with our U.S. trade counsel to get some comments in," Allan said in a conference call with reporters.

"We have reserved the right in those comments that we have submitted today to make further comments."

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