Canada to challenge latest US duties on softwood lumber

Canada to challenge latest US duties on softwood lumber

Clusters of trees are seen from a lookout on a logging road on Vancouver Island
Clusters of trees are seen from a lookout on a logging road on Vancouver Island. Photo: COLE BURSTON / AFP/File
Source: AFP

Ottawa announced Tuesday it will challenge the latest US duties on Canadian softwood lumber that it called "unfair, unjust and illegal."

At the same time, Canada offered to try to negotiate terms with the United States to bring an end to the longstanding trade dispute that has often flared up over the past 40 years.

A previous quota agreement expired in 2015, and in late July of this year Washington imposed a 7.99 percent levy on Canada's timber sector.

"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," Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement.

"Yesterday, Canada filed notices of intent to commence judicial review regarding the latest US decision maintaining these unwarranted duties on our softwood lumber products," she said.

Read also

Meta fights back over behavioural marketing ban in Norway

The US lumber industry claims Canada unfairly subsidizes its forestry sector and has on several occasions sought restrictions on Canadian softwood lumber imports through the application of US countervailing duty and antidumping laws.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!

Most challenges have been won by Canada, but the spats between neighbors have caused turmoil in the forestry sector.

Both Ng and her counterpart, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, have expressed a desire to resolve the matter through negotiation.

On Tuesday, Ng renewed calls for the two countries "to find a mutually acceptable resolution to this dispute," adding that Ottawa seeks "stability and predictability" for the sector.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.