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The US Department of Commerce says it has made a final decision to more than double countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, a move business groups in British Columbia say will harm communities on both sides of the border. Source: The Global News A statement from the American department says the duty for most Canadian companies is being increased to 14.63%, up from 6.74%, after it determined softwood lumber from Canada was being unfairly subsidized. The increase is on top of a recent jump in anti-dumping duties to 20.56%, bring the total duty level for Canadian softwood to 35.19%. The department says it will now instruct US Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting the money. Kurt Niquidet, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council, said in a statement that the decision places unnecessary strain on forestry-dependent regions in Canada while driving up construction costs for American builders. The council says both the Canadian and US governments need to make resolving the long-standing softwood lumber dispute a top economic priority. “In the absence of a negotiated settlement, BCLTC will continue working closely with the Government of Canada and industry partners to defend Canadian interests through all available legal channels, including proceedings under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” the statement says. The BC Council of Forest Industries says the provincial government needs to take action including streamlining permitting processes, activating provincial timber sales and removing cross-ministry bottlenecks. “With the right policy tools, British Columbia (BC) can send a strong message that it is committed to creating a climate where primary and secondary forest manufacturers want to invest, ensuring a steady supply of wood products for BC, Canada, and beyond,” President Kim Haakstad said in a statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney was in BC promising Can $700 million in loan guarantees for the industry and Can$500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products.

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