The US is raising duties on softwood lumber imports from Canada from 8.05% to 14.54%. In a written statement, Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, called this step disappointing. “The unjustified and unfair US tariffs on softwood lumber are harming consumers and producers on both sides of the border. This latest action will have a negative impact on workers and their communities.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Lumber Coalition, an alliance of softwood lumber producers and timberland holders, reiterated that the decision on tariffs taken by the Department of Commerce proves that “Canada continues to subsidize and dump its softwood lumber products in the United States”. The coalition said Canadian practices distort the American softwood lumber market, negatively impacting sawmills, their workers and communities in the United States.
Kurt Niquidet, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council, countered that the U.S. Lumber Coalition’s claims were unfounded and called the decision to nearly double tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber disappointing.
According to the online platform cbc.ca, Canadian government representatives and stakeholders vowed to challenge the US’s decision with litigation under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) at the U.S. Court of International Trade and at the World Trade Organization.
