The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, today issued the following statement regarding the final results from the fourth administrative reviews by the U.S. Department of Commerce of its anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada:
"Canada is very disappointed that the United States continues to impose unwarranted and unfair duties on Canadian softwood lumber. The only fair outcome would be for the United States to cease applying these baseless duties. Canada will continue to vigorously defend its softwood lumber industry and the entrepreneurs, workers and communities it supports.
"Duties on Canadian softwood lumber unjustifiably harm Canadian businesses and communities. They also amount to a punitive tax on U.S. businesses that need Canadian lumber, which hampers their ability to grow and to create U.S. jobs.
"Moreover, these unwarranted duties are detrimental to our highly integrated supply chains and economies. Rather than protecting U.S. jobs and businesses, the duties have instead led to a spike in imports from offshore suppliers to fill the gap in demand.
"An immediate negotiated solution to this long-standing trade issue is in the best interests of both our countries. Canada is disappointed that the United States is not meaningfully engaging in discussions on a return to predictable cross-border trade in softwood lumber. At every opportunity, I continue to reiterate this message to my U.S. counterparts, U.S. administration officials and Congressional representatives on both sides of the aisle.
"Canada will always stand up for our softwood lumber industry, including through litigation under NAFTA Chapter 19, Chapter 10 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, in U.S. courts and before the WTO. In the past, neutral third-party tribunals have repeatedly found U.S. claims to be without merit, and we firmly believe this will be the case again."
Quick facts
- The U.S. Department of Commerce conducts an annual review of anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders. The annual review process is similar to the process for initial investigations but applies only to companies that are subject to review.
- The new combined "all others" duty rate that will apply to most softwood lumber exports is 7.99%, compared to the previous rate of 8.59% from the third administrative reviews.
- These new rates will apply on a going-forward basis to exports of softwood lumber products to the United States from companies that were subject to the fourth administrative reviews.
- In addition, these new anti-dumping and countervailing duty rates will apply retroactively to softwood lumber exports to the United States made in calendar year 2021 from companies that were subject to the fourth administrative reviews.
