Canada got a split decision Tuesday from an international court on the question of whether it violated parts of the 2006 softwood lumber agreement with the United States.

In a binding decision, the London Court of International Arbitration ruled exporters in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec exceeded their quotas.

The court agreed with the U.S. government that exporters in the four provinces should have based their export figures on a starting date of Jan. 1, 2007. Canada had argued the start date should have been July 1, 2007.

On the other side, the court found that exporters in British Columbia and Alberta did not violate the softwood deal because they did not opt for a quota system.

The Canadian government said it will abide by the ruling.

"We are pleased that the tribunal agreed with our interpretation that the adjustment factor is not applicable to British Columbia and Alberta," said Minister of International Trade David Emerson.

"However, we are disappointed that the tribunal did not agree with our position that adjustments were to commence as of July 1, 2007," he said in a release.

"While Canada believes that it has fully complied with the agreement, we respect the tribunal's ruling. We appreciate that the issues in this arbitration involve a complex technical matter."

"It's very good news for our industry," said B.C. Forests Minister Rich Coleman, who acknowledged it was not such good news for producers in the other provinces.

A U.S. coalition of lumber producers applauded the ruling on lumber on Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

 "The coalition is pleased that the tribunal came to the only correct determination in this case relating to quota volumes," said Coaliton for Fair Lumber Imports chairman Steve Swanson.

With files from Canadian Press