Canada’s federal government in Ottawa has filed a new challenge against U.S. softwood lumber
duties.
The new challenge has been filed under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
(USMCA) and calls the duties “unfair.”
Specifically, the Government of Canada is challenging the latest results of the U.S. Department
of Commerce’s administrative review of its anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on
softwood lumber imported from Canada.
The U.S. government cut its anti-dumping and countervailing duty rate on imports of Canadian
softwood lumber in half earlier in August to 8.59% from 17.61%, but Canada said it would
continue to fight any duties imposed by the American government.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden argues that the stumpage fees Canadian
provinces charge for timber harvested on federal lands amounts to unfair subsidies as U.S.
producers must pay market rates for softwood lumber.
The battle between Canada and the U.S. over softwood lumber duties has been ongoing for
more than 20 years.
