2023-08-22 23:50:28
Ottawa opposes the recent American decision which maintains the imposition of tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
Federal Commerce Minister Mary Ng has announced that Canada is now seeking a judicial review of administrative reviews conducted last month by the U.S. Treasury Department into these tariffs — which she calls “unfair , unjust and illegal”.
The latest US administrative review lowered tariffs slightly, but kept the combined rate at 7.99%.
Minister Ng is also urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to sit down and broker a resolution to this decades-old dispute between the two neighbors.
For years, the United States has imposed inequitable, unfair and illegal duties on softwood lumber from Canada, hurting Canadian industry and driving up housing costs in both our countries.
Reaching such an agreement would be difficult, however, because the United States fundamentally challenges Canada’s long-standing regulatory system, which it says disadvantages American lumber producers. Mme Tai said the United States would be willing to negotiate, but only if Canada abandons the regime that allows provinces to set prices for timber taken from Crown land.
“For years, the United States has imposed inequitable, unfair and illegal duties on softwood lumber from Canada, harming Canadian industry and driving up housing costs in both our countries,” said Minister Ng said in a statement.
“Canada is taking the necessary steps to actively defend the interests of its softwood lumber industry and the workers and communities that depend on it. »
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