West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd. announced it has achieved a "significant victory" in the long-running dispute on softwood lumber, when NAFTA ordered the U.S. Department of Commerce to revoke the anti-dumping order against the Company.

The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based company said it is entitled to a refund of more than $24 million U.S. funds, plus interest, of anti-dumping duty deposits that have been posted by the company from May, 2002, excluding deposits made by Weldwood of Canada, which was acquired by West Fraser December 31, 2004.

Hank Ketcham, Chairman, President, and CEO of West Fraser, said, "While we had long expected this decision, we are pleased with today's NAFTA ruling," which was announced on June 8.

The Company said, "In making its ruling, which confirmed an earlier finding that West Fraser does not dump umber into the U.S., the NAFTA panel rejected U.S> claims that West Fraser was not entitled to refund of its anti-dumping duty deposits. Specifically, the NAFTA panel held that "the Order was never valid as to West Fraser.' The U.S. has 30 days to comply with NAFTA's ruling.

"We expect the Department of Commerce will comply with the ruling and return the monies that are rightly owed to West Fraser," Ketcham said.

West Fraser is a publicly traded forest products company that produces lumber, laminated veneer lumber, medium density fiberboard, plywood, pulp, linerboard, kraft paper, and newsprint. The company has manufacturing operations in British Columbia, Alberta, and in the U.S. mid south at Joyce, Louisiana and Huttig, Arkansas. the company has approximately 7,300 employees.

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