The federal government says American duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports continue to be B次元官网网址渦nfairB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渦njustified,B次元官网网址� even if they have been reduced.

An administrative review by the U.S. Department of Commerce imposes countervailing duties of nearly nine per cent on certain Canadian exporters, down from just over 20 per cent.

ItB次元官网网址檚 the latest salvo in one of the most persistent trade irritants between Canada and the United States, a dispute that has been raging for nearly 40 years.

The lower rate appears to be the result of a World Trade Organization decision in August that found Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission were wrong to impose the original duties in 2017.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng acknowledged the lower tariffs as a step in the right direction, but insisted they remain baseless and unfair.

Ng says the government will continue to seek a negotiated settlement and defend the interests of Canadian forestry companies and workers.

B次元官网网址淲hile reduction in tariffs for some Canadian producers is a step in the right direction, Canada is disappointed that the United States continues to impose unwarranted and unfair duties on Canadian softwood lumber,B次元官网网址� she said in a statement Tuesday evening.

B次元官网网址淭hese duties have caused unjustified harm to Canadian businesses and workers, as well as U.S. consumers.B次元官网网址�

U.S. producers have long taken issue with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 system of provincially regulated stumpage fees, which are paid to the Crown in exchange for the right to harvest timber.

They say the system unfairly subsidizes an industry which in the U.S. is privately owned and operated, with pricing set by the competitive marketplace.

Canadian lumber exports play a critical role in the U.S., where demand for wood products used in construction significantly outstrips the domestic supply.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition, a champion of countervailing duties against Canada, noted in a statement that the August decision by the WTO is being appealed B次元官网网址� although the U.S. has effectively hamstrung the world bodyB次元官网网址檚 dispute resolution panel by refusing to appoint new members.

B次元官网网址淚t is absolutely imperative that these flawed WTO recommendations are not allowed to undermine in any way the continued enforcement of the trade laws,B次元官网网址� executive director Zoltan van Heyningen said in a statement.

B次元官网网址淭he WTO case is far from over, and as such, it must not be allowed to influence the ongoing process and the results of the second administrative review.B次元官网网址�

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