Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States now face combined import taxes of almost 35 per cent, following the latest review by the U.S. Department of Commerce, according to the BC Lumber Trade Council.
The council, which represents British Columbia lumber producers, said the new total of 34.75 per cent is down from the combined rate of 45 per cent that was announced in August of last year. Despite the decrease, the organization said the burden on the industry remains substantial.
Breakdown of the Duties
According to the council, the Commerce Department has set countervailing duties at 14.11 per cent and an anti-dumping rate of 10.64 per cent. On top of those two measures sits an additional 10 per cent tariff that U.S. President Donald Trump imposed on national security grounds.
Breakdown of U.S. Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber
Kim Haakstad, the council’s interim president, said in a statement that members of the organization are disappointed Canadian lumber producers continue to face what she described as unjustified and punitive trade measures. She said the combined weight of the duties and tariffs remains a significant burden on producers.
A Decade-Long Dispute
The council’s statement said the softwood lumber dispute has now dragged on for nearly ten years, putting pressure on communities that depend on the forestry sector.
Haakstad also said the effects of the trade dispute are not limited to Canada. She said American families are paying a price as well, since the trade barriers have driven up the cost of building homes in the United States and have hurt companies south of the border that supply equipment and services to Canadian mills.
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