Canada asks WTO to judge its softwood lumber dispute with United States

Canada has submitted the request to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to set up an adjudication panel to judge its dispute with the United States over Canadian lumber exports, according to an agenda circulated by the WTO. The meeting of the WTO’s dispute settlement body is scheduled on March 27.

The U.S. Commerce Department accuses Canada of unfairly subsidizing and dumping softwood lumber, which is commonly used in the construction of homes. It has said its duties affect about $5.66 billion worth of imports.