Canada to seek judicial review of latest U.S. decision on softwood lumber duties

WASHINGTON –

The federal authorities in Ottawa is pushing again towards the newest U.S. determination to maintain imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is searching for a judicial overview of final month’s Treasury Department evaluation of the levies, which she calls unfair, unjust and unlawful.

The newest administrative overview offered modest reduction, however maintained the mixed responsibility fee at 7.99 per cent.

Ng can be urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to sit down down and negotiate a decision to the decades-old dispute.

Such a deal can be difficult, for the reason that U.S. takes situation with a long-standing regulatory system in Canada it says places American producers at an obstacle.

Tai has mentioned the U.S. can be keen to barter, however provided that Canada does away with a system that enables provinces to set costs for timber from Crown land.

“For years, the United States has imposed unfair, unjust and illegal duties on Canadian softwood lumber, hurting Canadian industry and increasing housing costs in both countries,” Ng mentioned in a press release.

“Canada is taking the necessary steps to actively defend the interests of our softwood lumber industry and the workers and communities that rely on it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Aug. 22, 2023.