Martin knocks wood tariff stance of U.S.

OTTAWA, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Canada's prime minister used a visit Tuesday by the U.S. secretary of State to knock Washington over a trade barrier.

Paul Martin criticized the United States for defying a ruling by a North American Free Trade Agreement panel that went against Washington's import tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, the BBC reported Tuesday.

Ottawa wants Washington to drop the tariffs and return billions already collected.

"Friends live up to their agreements," the BCC quoted Martin as saying during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.