WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce announced April 4 the preliminary determination of an anti-subsidy rate of 14.38% in the sixth annual review of Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The ruling, which substantially increases the anti-subsidy and anti-dumping rate, differs from the reciprocal tariffs announced last week by President Trump. Canadian lumber was exempted from those reciprocal tariffs. 

In the new ruling, the Commerce Department determined a combined preliminary anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 34.45% for Canadian lumber imported in the calendar year 2023.

“Unfair trade by Canada to the tune of 34.45% in the U.S. softwood lumber market substantiates yet again the everyday egregious harm to the U.S. industry by Canada’s abusive dumping and subsidies practices. These unfair trade practices are designed by Canada to maintain an artificially inflated U.S. market share for Canadian products and force U.S. companies to curtail production, thereby killing U.S. jobs,” stated Andrew Miller, owner/chair of Stimson Lumber Company and Chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition.

Across the border the Canadians have a different opinion. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, said the double countervailing duties imposed on Canadian softwood lumber will drive up housing costs for Americans who voted for a President who promised to lower costs.

“This is an attack on forest workers and British Columbians," Eby said. "I know that during hard times it is often the workers who pay the price. To every forestry worker in British Columbia hearing the news of this impending increase to softwood lumber duties, know this: We have got your back and your government will fight for you.

“In Canada, the continued unjustified softwood lumber duties, combined with additional U.S. tariffs and other trade actions, have united Canadians. We have friends and family in the United States who need Canadian lumber to build or rebuild their homes, and both Canadians and Americans need an end to this trade dispute."

The U.S. Lumber Coalition disputes this, saying that the American lumber industry and forestry sector has the capacity to supply nearly all U.S. lumber demand, and with "continued strong trade law enforcement and additional tariff measures being contemplated by President Trump, the U.S. industry can, over time, supply 100 percent of the softwood lumber need of the United States. That means more Made in the U.S.A. softwood lumber is being produced by U.S. companies and workers to supply our domestic housing needs,” stated Zoltan van Heyningen, executive director of the coalition.