Bruce Ralston, the Minister of Forests of British Columbia, issued a statement following the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel ruling on Canada's challenge of the U.S. Department of Commerce's final dumping determination on softwood lumber.
In the statement, Ralston emphasized the significance of British Columbia's forestry sector for the communities across the province, providing jobs that support families, livelihoods, and local economies. He reiterated the stance of both the federal and B.C. governments that the duties imposed by the United States on Canadian softwood lumber are deemed unwarranted, punitive, and detrimental to British Columbia's forestry workers and communities.
The NAFTA panel, in its ruling, determined that the U.S. Department of Commerce made errors in calculating crucial aspects of the anti-dumping duties applied to Canadian softwood lumber exports. Ralston expressed encouragement at the panel's decision, noting that it aligns with the extensive evidence supporting Canada's claims. The panel directed the U.S. Department of Commerce to reconsider key elements of its decision.
In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determination of a combined anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 7.99% in the fourth annual review of unfairly traded Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The review covers lumber imported in calendar year 2021.
