Tentative deal reached

MONTREAL -- Canadian and U.S. officials have reached a tentative deal to settle a long-running dispute over Canada's softwood lumber industry, a Canadian official said today.

"We have found common ground on a possible agreement on the parameters," Canadian trade ministry spokesman Sebastien Theberge told reporters. He declined to give any details.

Negotiators reached the agreement after talks in Washington last week, Theberge said. The two sides are now reporting back to ministers and to the lumber industries in the two countries before a final decision is made, he said.

"It isn't the time, it's the quality of the agreement that matters. It is important to take the time to analyze what we have as a draft," Theberge said.

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