The softwood lumber industry is an important sector in the Canadian economy, supporting thousands of jobs in communities across Canada and creating many positive spin-off effects in related industries and services. Canada's modern, efficient, environmentally sustainable lumber companies have the potential to serve markets at home and around the world.
In the United States, where demand for lumber exceeds what domestic mills can supply, housing and other industries rely on Canada for stable, predictable access to quality products. The 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), which provided stability and predictability for industry on both sides of the border, expired on October 12, 2015.
Canada and the United States continue to pursue a negotiated outcome to this important bilateral issue. The Government is also meeting on a regular basis with industry, provinces and territories, and other stakeholders.
The Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute has become one of the most enduring trade disputes between both nations. Over the past 25 years, the United States lumber industry has frequently sought U.S. government restrictions on Canadian softwood lumber imports through the application of U.S. countervailing duty and antidumping laws – laws that allow the imposition of import duties when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by subsidies in the exporting country (countervailing duties), or by dumping, which is when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by imported products sold at prices that are lower than the cost of production or lower than prices in the domestic market (anti-dumping duties).
| Fifth Administrative Review Final Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Final anti-dumping duty rates | Final countervailing duty rates | Combined final duty rates |
| Canfor Corporation | 10.44% | 6.14% | 16.58% |
| West Fraser Mills Ltd. | 5.32% | 6.85% | 12.17% |
| J.D. Irving Ltd. | 7.80% (All Others) | 3.88% | 11.68% |
| Tolko Industries Ltd. | 7.80% (All Others) | 9.61% | 17.41% |
| All Others | 7.80% | 6.74% | 14.54% |
Softwood Lumber Division (TNS)
Global Affairs Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-8950
Email: softwood.boisdoeuvre@international.gc.ca
To learn more about the Canadian softwood lumber industry, and the support available to Canadians, please visit the Natural Resources Canada Softwood Lumber page.