U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber 'unjustified': B.C. ministers
The British Columbia government is voicing frustration at the United States over its decision to maintain import duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
In a joint statement Wednesday, Forests Minister Bruce Ralston and Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey said the import tariffs are "unjustified" and hurt consumers in both countries.
"At a time when we need to work together in the face of rising costs related to global inflation, these tariffs are making housing and lumber more expensive, hurting people on both sides of the border," the ministers said.
“As we continue to build a more resilient, sustainable forest economy, what we need are partners across the border who work with us, not against us, in making a stronger forest sector for Canada and the United States."
Mary Ng, Canada's international trade minister, said Tuesday the duties the U.S. imposes on Canadian softwood lumber amount to a tax on American customers.
Documents filed Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce are the latest in a series of reviews of the lumber dispute, and indicate the anti-dumping and countervailing duties aren't going away.
The latest combined duty rates - which are preliminary and won't take effect until after a final review expected this summer - range between 7.29 and 9.38 per cent.
Ng said Canada will use all avenues to fight the duties, including litigation under NAFTA and its successor the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as well as at the World Trade Organization.
“With these preliminary results, the U.S. Department of Commerce has indicated its intention to maintain its unjustified duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber,” Ng said in a statement.
“Canada remains ready and willing to find solutions that allow for a return to predictable cross-border trade in softwood lumber. We are confident that a negotiated solution to this long-standing issue is in the best interests of both our countries.”
The U.S. wants Canada to address the provincial stumpage fee regime that American producers have long complained gives Canadian producers an unfair advantage – the core issue in a dispute that has persisted for decades.
Lumber-producing provinces, including B.C., set stumpage fees for timber harvested from Crown land – a system that U.S. producers, forced to pay market rates, say amounts to an unfair subsidy.
Ottawa, however, insists that such a fundamental change to the way a key Crown resource is managed is not on the table.
"B.C. will always work with the federal government to stand up for the 50,000 hard-working people in our forest industry against these unwarranted duties," Ralston and Bailey said, adding the provincial government is committed to expanding markets for B.C. wood products.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.