By Caribbean News Global 
OTTAWA, Canada – Mary Ng, minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, issued the following statement regarding Canada’s request for a panel review under Chapter 10 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement regarding US countervailing duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber:
“On November 24, 2020, the US Department of Commerce established, through its first administrative review process, a 7.42 percent countervailing duty rate for most Canadian producers of softwood lumber.
“Canada firmly believes that any duties imposed on Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the United States are unwarranted and unfair.
“These duties have caused unjustified harm for Canadian workers and businesses, and are hampering economic recovery on both sides of the border—especially when our people are being affected by the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
“Our government will continue to vigorously defend its forestry sector and the thousands of hard-working Canadians it employs.
“Canada will consider all of its legal options with respect to US duties on softwood lumber, including the possibility of bringing this challenge to the World Trade Organization for review under its dispute settlement mechanism.”
Quick facts
- Most US imports of Canadian softwood lumber are now subject to new duty rates: a 7.42 percent countervailing duty rate and a 1.57 percent 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 percent.
Related: US to appeal WTO panel report on Canadian softwood lumber
