U.S. Lowers Total Import Tax on Canadian Softwood Lumber to Nearly 35%
Following a U.S. Department of Commerce review, the total import tax rate on Canadian softwood lumber has been reduced to almost 35 per cent from 45 per cent. The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says the remaining duties and tariffs continue to burden producers, pressure forest-dependent communities, and raise U.S. home-building costs.
The total import tax rate for Canadian softwood lumber exports is now almost 35 per cent following a review by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The new rate is lower than the combined 45 per cent rate announced in August of the previous year.
The current charges include countervailing duties set at 14.11 per cent and an anti-dumping rate of 10.64 per cent imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce. An additional tariff of 10 per cent was levied by U.S. President Donald Trump on grounds of national security.
Despite the reduction, the B.C. Lumber Trade Council states that its members remain disappointed because the trade measures are still unjustified and punitive. Kim Haakstad, interim president of the council, stated that the combined weight of duties and tariffs remains a significant burden on producers.
The softwood lumber dispute has lasted nearly a decade, placing pressure on forest-dependent communities in British Columbia and across Canada. According to the council, these trade barriers have driven up the cost of building homes in the United States and hurt companies selling equipment and services to Canadian mills.