Kanada_Flagge.jpg

Flagge Kanada/Canada © Holzkurier

North America

US tariffs: Canada pins hopes on NAFTA arbitration tribunal

Article by Jörg Parschau, translated by Susanne Höfler | 07.05.2019 - 16:16

Canada's sawmill industry has been suffering from a price slump for softwood lumber for months. One of the reasons, amongst others, is the slow development of the US housing construction sector. The situation is further aggravated by import tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber issued by US president Donald Trump in 2017. Yesterday, the Canadian government sent a delegation of lawyers to Washington to fight for the repeal of duties based on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Back

Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reports that even though softwood lumber is not within the scope of the goods affected by the Free Trade Agreement Canadians pin their hope on the mediation mechanism of the agreement that stipulates an arbitration tribunal in such cases. A tribunal of this kind will now decide in Washington.

 
 
 
Back

Related articles

finland

Finnish lumber production decreased

In 2023, Finland’s lumber production output was the lowest in ten years. Read more ...

germany

Sawmill industry with a slump in sales

In the first two months of 2024, the German sawmills recorded a marked decrease in sales compared to the same period of the previous two years, which had been exceptionally good. Read more ...

usa

Still no change in the US price

So far this year, prices have remained more or less constant on the US softwood lumber market. 2024 started out at US-$452/1,000 bft and 15 weeks later, the 2-by-4 price is still the same. It was... Read more ...

italy

Italy needed less lumber at the start of this year

In January, Italy reduced its softwood lumber imports by 10% compared to last year. Main supplier Austria recorded a decrease of 4%, but performed much better than other supplying countries. Read more ...