US to appeal WTO rulings favoring Canada

The United States will appeal a pair of World Trade Organization decisions on softwood lumber and the Canadian Wheat Board, a well-placed Ottawa source said.

"The Americans are going for everything, this being an election year," the source said. "The Bush administration doesn't want (Democratic Party challenger John) Kerry to be seen as the defender of US Trade interests."

A recent WTO decision found the Canadian Wheat Board, which has a marketing monopoly on exports of western Canadian grains, was compliant with international trade obligations. (Reuters)