The Canada-US softwood lumber dispute is just the tip of the iceberg, and both countries are likely to engage in more acrimonious trade rows in coming years, Canadian media Tuesday quoted former US President Bill Clinton as saying.

Clinton spoke eloquently on global issues ranging from AIDS to climate change to a rapt audience and thunderous applause in London in southwestern Ontario on Monday, local media reported.

On the subject of free trade between the United States and Canada, Clinton warned that disputes such as the current one over softwood lumber, or past scuffles over wheat and fish, would continue to erupt.

"They are the tip of what I'm convinced is a much bigger iceberg than most leaders of most wealthy countries recognize," Clinton said.

Tension has been rising in US-Canada trade relations after Washington rebuked a ruling of an extraordinary panel of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in August that the import

duties imposed by the US on Canada softwoods are illegal.

Prime Minister Paul Martin told US President George W. Bush last week in a phone call that Canada would now pursue "all options" including seeking a US court ruling forcing Washington to comply with the NAFTA panel's decision.

Source: Xinhua