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BC lumber producers to defend against new anti-dumping duties

“These duties result from the trade action which is part of the continued attempt by the protectionist U.S. lumber lobby to constrain imports of high-quality Canadian lumber into the U.S. market and to drive up prices for their benefit,” said Susan Yurkovich, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council. “The ongoing allegations levelled by the U.S. industry are without merit. This was proven in the last round of litigation and we fully expect it will be the case again.”

The preliminary anti-dumping rates imposed by the U.S. are as follows:

• Canfor 7.72 per cent
• Resolute 4.59 per cent
• Tolko 7.53 per cent
• West Fraser 6.76 per cent
• and 6.87 per cent for ‘all others.’

These anti-dumping duties are in addition to the preliminary countervailing duties imposed in April 2017 and result in a combined duty rate ranging from 26.75 per cent to 30.88 per cent for B.C. producers.

“Canada and the U.S. enjoy one of the most productive trading relationships in the world, and the North American lumber market has always been served by both American and Canadian producers,” said Yurkovich. “American demand for lumber exceeds what the U.S. lumber industry currently produces, and there is enough demand in North America to grow the U.S. industry while also allowing Canada to continue to supply our U.S customers as we have been doing for decades. Canadian lumber companies have always traded fairly. This action by the U.S. lumber lobby ultimately punishes American consumers who are faced with higher lumber prices when they buy, build or renovate their home.”

“BC Lumber Trade Council continues to believe that reaching a new agreement is in the best interests of producers and consumers on both sides of the border and we will continue to work closely with our provincial and federal governments to support efforts to reach a new agreement. However, we will also continue to vigorously defend our industry and our workers against these unwarranted duties and we expect to be successful as we have been in the past.”

B.C. is the largest Canadian exporter of softwood lumber to the U.S. The B.C. forest industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy and supports approximately 145,000 direct and indirect jobs in the province. The BC Lumber Trade Council is the voice on trade matters for companies in British Columbia representing the majority of B.C. lumber production.