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Lumber | Image Bank
BC Lumber Trade Council President Susan Yurkovich has expressed her dissatisfaction with the US Department of Commerce’s (DOC) final decision on countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
The new combined rate will be 17.9%, which is double the current combined rate of 8.99%.
Here is a statement from Yurkovich.
“While not unexpected, we are disappointed with the doubling of softwood lumber duties for Canadian producers. As we have said time and time again, these unfair rights hurt not only BC businesses and workers, but also American consumers looking to repair, renovate and build new homes. As US producers remain unable to meet domestic demand, these duties pose a threat to post-pandemic recovery on both sides of the border. “
“Our firm hope is that the American industry will end this decades-long litigation and instead work with us to meet the demand for low-carbon wood products that the world wants, including American families. Until then, we will continue to vigorously defend our industry against these baseless allegations. “
Today’s decision (Wednesday) is the result of DOC’s second administrative review of its investigation into softwood lumber products from Canada.
Once published, producers in British Columbia will be subject to these new tariffs. The note largely reflects the preliminary rate of 18.32%, originally issued in May.
In addition, Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Exploitation of Natural Resources and Rural Development, and Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Employment, Economic Recovery and Innovation, also issued a joint statement. :
“Today’s announcement by the United States to increase unfair softwood lumber duties in British Columbia and Canada is unacceptable at any time, especially since both countries are working together to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. “
“We remain steadfast in our common position with industry that BC’s forest policies are trade-compliant, and these obligations continue to hurt BC’s forest sector and the thousands of hard-working families who work in industry.
“Since 2017, our government has met with its federal counterparts to stress that achieving a fair settlement is a top priority for the province. More recently, Minister Kahlon met with Canadian and US federal diplomats responsible for international trade to discuss the softwood lumber issue.
“We are committed to putting workers and their families first when it comes to meeting the challenges facing the forestry sector, and the last thing workers need are tasks that will increase costs and will hurt local businesses.
“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent devastating weather events, we are working hard to create a sustainable, inclusive and innovative economy that works for everyone. This includes creating a more diverse and resilient forest sector.
“Part of this work includes expanding growth in global markets for British Columbia wood products, including mass lumber, by investing in manufacturing capacity and competitiveness, helping the industry to understand product and market trends, and by funding industry-led market development activities in high potential areas. markets. Solid wood will play a vital role in the growth of the forestry, manufacturing and construction sectors, and will result in new jobs and investments in research, design, engineering, construction and forestry.
“BC is a fair and competitive trader. We will continue to stand up for the interests of British Columbia and stand up for the 50,000 workers in our forest industry against these unjustified rights.
“We are urgently working with our counterparts in Ottawa to vigorously defend ourselves against this unfair US trade action on softwood lumber through all dispute resolution processes available to us. “
British Columbia is Canada’s largest exporter of softwood lumber to the United States
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