Final decision on US-Canada softwood lumber dispute favours US
8 December 2017A final ruling in the US-Canada softwood lumber dispute has seen the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) uphold tariffs on Canadian softwood imports to the US.
The ruling on December 7 determined that the US lumber industry is materially injured by reason of imports of softwood lumber from Canada. The US Department of Commerce had previously determined that imports are subsidised and sold in the US at less than fair value (LTFV).
As a result of the decision, the US Department of Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from Canada. However, the USITC said imports would not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.
The US Commerce Department last month lowered the preliminary duties, with most Canadian producers now paying a combined countervailing and anti-dumping rate of 20.83%.
Meanwhile, the USITC has also issued a further tariff determination concerning wood product imports, in respect of hardwood plywood from China.
It decided that the US hardwood plywood industry is materially injured by Chinese hardwood plywood imports, with the products sold in the US at less than fair value and subsidised by the government of China.
The US Department of Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China. The imports will not be subject to retroactive antidumping or countervailing duties.
