The softwood lumber dispute with the United States could be resolved before the NAFTA renegotiation gets underway in mid-August, says Quebec’s softwood lumber envoy.

Raymond Chretien, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., said ... that he’s optimistic because of recent comments by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that he would like to conclude a deal before discussing the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The former diplomat acknowledged, however, that the softwood lumber dispute could last for years if a deal isn’t reached before NAFTA talks begin with Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Noting his long experience, Chretien said it would be “difficult to carry out two sensitive negotiations simultaneously.”...

This is excertped from 5 June 2017 edition of The Canadian Press.