Statement by Minister Ng about U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber

November 24, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, today issued the following statement regarding the first administrative review by the U.S. Department of Commerce of U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada:

“Canada’s forestry sector supports hundreds of thousands of good, middle-class jobs for Canadians in communities across the country, and we will always vigorously defend their interests.

“While reduction in tariffs for some Canadian producers is a step in the right direction, Canada is disappointed that the United States continues to impose unwarranted and unfair duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

“Canada strongly disagrees with this decision which will result in higher duties for Resolute Forest Products, a company that employs thousands of hard-working people in Quebec and Ontario.

“Canada expects the United States to comply with its WTO and CUSMA obligations, and drop their baseless duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

“These duties have caused unjustified harm to Canadian businesses and workers, as well as U.S. consumers.

“We will continue to press our American counterparts to rescind this unfair and unwarranted trade action. We remain confident that a negotiated settlement is not only possible, but in the interests of both our countries.”

Quick Facts

  • The new duty rate that will apply to exports from most companies subject to the first administrative review is 8.99%, compared to the current rate of 20.23%. Certain companies will also receive company-specific rates.
  • The new rates will apply on a going forward basis to softwood lumber exports to the United States from companies that were subject to the first Administrative Review.
  • Once any challenges before CUSMA Chapter 10 or U.S. courts have been resolved, these new duty rates will apply retroactively to softwood lumber exports to the U.S. from companies that were subject to the first Administrative Review.

Frequently asked questions – Softwood lumber