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Presents information on the efforts of the forest products industry in the U.S. to compete with China and other foreign trading partners in 2005. Emergence of China in the forest product sector; Details of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by the European Union on U.S. paper products; Dispute between the U.S. and Canada over antidumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

The article discusses the challenges faced by the forest products industry of Canada. While the industry gains from the increased market demand for wood from China, wood products from China has displaced products produced in Canada. Other challenges include environmental demands, rising energy costs and currency rate changes that affect competitiveness of local products. The industry has responded by restructuring, improving productivity, focusing on innovation and expanding export markets.

The article discloses the economic measures made by Canada to foster trade. Canada invests billions of dollars in its infrastructure upgrade initiatives which include the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. The initiative focuses on optimizing international and domestic supply chains. It has been rolled into the government's Building Canada Plan, a seven-year infrastructure program amounting to $ 30 billion. Canada also signed up with China in a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in infrastructure development.

The article reports that China's forest products industry is growing due to limited domestic timber resources. The total value of imported pulp, lumber, logs and wood chips is predicted to increase by 60 percent in 2009 to over 11 billion U.S. dollars in 2010. It states that the value of imported lumber from China's major suppliers including Russia, Canada, the U.S., Thailand and New Zealand may rise to nearly 4 billion U.S. dollars.

The article reports that Attorney Michael A. Gollin, a partner at the Venable LLP law firm in Washington claims a statement attributed to him in a July 7, 2008 article on counterfeit imports did not accurately reflect his views on intellectual property practices in Canada and China. He clarified that those countries are looking at innovation holistically at the level of national policy. He offers his statement that more closely reflects the point he sought to convey.

The article offers world news briefs related to commerce as of September 2006. Evergreen Marine Corp. experienced a net loss for the first quarter of its fiscal year. Flights to and from China will be started by FedEx Express in March 2006. The Canadian Conservative government is interested in liberalizing port funding.