Ottawa requests CUSMA panel review of U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber

Government says any duties imposed on Canadian softwood lumber by the United States are unwarranted

The Government of Canada announced the filing of a request for a panel review under Chapter 10 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) regarding U.S. countervailing duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber.

The U.S. Department of Commerce established on November 24, 2020, through its first administrative review process, new countervailing duty rates for most Canadian producers of softwood lumber.

Most U.S. imports of Canadian softwood lumber are now subject to new duty rates: a 7.42% countervailing duty rate and a 1.57% anti-dumping duty rate (8.99% combined); certain companies also received company-specific rates.

The previous combined rate to which most Canadian companies were subject when exporting certain softwood lumber products to the United States was 20.23%.

Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, said in a statement: “Canada firmly believes that any duties imposed on Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the United States are unwarranted and unfair.”