New Brunswick’s Irving family used its personal access to a former U.S. commerce secretary to carve out a favourable deal on tariffs, a competitor alleges. In filings with the U.S. Commerce Department, Resolute Forest Products claims that Jim Irving, co-CEO of J.D. Irving Ltd., spoke to Wilbur Ross.
“Following the meeting between Messrs. Ross and Irving, J.D. Irving Ltd. was accepted immediately as the fourth company to be individually reviewed”, Resolute argued. As a result, Irving lumber will be assessed at a rate of 3.41 percent, compared to the countervailing duties of 6.31 percent that most of its competitors must pay.
Rulings from the department last week rejected Resolute’s claims. President Joe Biden appointed Gina Raimondo as Ross’s successor upon his inauguration in January.
