The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist.
The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry.
B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a “gut punch” for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years.
For folks who are lamenting that the Canada/US relationship has cratered because Trump was reelected, this is something that’s been an ongoing problem since 1982. Canada has been on the “abused” side of this relationship for a long time, it’s just sighed and endured it until now.