The federal government in Ottawa plans to challenge the latest U.S. duties imposed on
Canadian softwood lumber exports.
International Trade Minister Mary Ng has called the latest duties, which American officials say
have been lowered, “unwarranted” and “unfair.”
The final U.S. duty of 8.59% is lower than the current rate of 17.91% and is also lower than the
rate of 11.64% proposed in a preliminary court decision issued at the start of this year.
However, Ottawa maintains that any duties imposed on Canadian softwood lumber exports are
without merit and will cause harm to Canada's forestry industry and the U.S. housing market.
Minister Ng said Ottawa plans to challenge the latest duty under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada
Agreement's trade dispute resolution process.
Some lawmakers in the U.S. have been calling for an end to the decades long softwood lumber
battle with Canada, which they say is contributing to record levels of inflation.
