Global Trade

Canada ‘extremely disappointed’ with U.S. verdict to increase softwood lumber duty percentage

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The United States has decided to nearly double the duties on Canadian softwood lumber from most producers to 17.9 percent, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng said on Wednesday, adding that Canada is “extremely disappointed.

“The current rate for the majority of businesses is around 9%. Ng stated that the US Department of Commerce issued the final results of the second administrative reviews of its anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders against certain softwood lumber products from Canada on Wednesday.

“Canada is extremely disappointed that the United States has decided to increase the unfair duties it is imposing on Canadian softwood lumber from most producers to 17.9%,” Ng said in a statement.

“Canada calls on the United States to cease imposing these unwarranted duties on Canadian softwood lumber products.” On Wednesday night, the US Commerce Department and the US Trade Representative’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this year, Washington announced plans to double tariffs on Canadian lumber imports and to convene a dispute panel over Canada’s dairy import quotas.

The softwood lumber industry in Canada is an important part of the country’s forestry sector, which contributed more than $25 billion to the country’s GDP in 2020 and employed nearly 185,000 people. The British Columbia Lumber Trade Council was also dissatisfied.

Story by : Norvisi Mawunyegah