Commerce Hikes Canada Softwood Lumber Tariffs to 14.54%

[ABS News Service/14.08.2024]

The Commerce Department has hiked tariffs on softwood lumber from Canada in its latest administrative review released yesterday.

The new combined duty rate that will apply to most softwood lumber exports is 14.54 percent, compared to the previous rate of 8.05 percent set following the last administrative review.

The new rate will be applied retroactively to 2022 and will apply to new exports of softwood lumber products to the United States from companies that were subject to the fifth administrative reviews.

Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng called Commerce’s decision to increase the duties “unfair and unwarranted.”

“Baseless and unfair U.S. duties on softwood lumber unjustifiably harm consumers and producers on both sides of the border,” she said in a statement. “This latest measure will negatively impact workers and their communities. U.S. consumers and businesses that need Canadian lumber will bear the burden of these duties, making housing even less affordable for Americans.”

She called for Canada and the United States to reach agreement on a solution to the longstanding dispute.

But in the meantime, Ottawa will continue to use all tools available, including litigation under the North American Free Trade Agreement and US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the US Court of International Trade and the World Trade Organization, she said