Vancouver, B.C. – The BC Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) is expressing strong concern following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final decision to more than double countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports—from 6.74% to 14.63%. Combined with the recently increased anti-dumping duty of 20.56%, the total duty level now stands at 35.19%.

“This decision will harm communities on both sides of the border,” said Kurt Niquidet, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council. “It places unnecessary strain on forestry-dependent regions in Canada while driving up construction costs for American builders and families. What is needed now is a stable, negotiated agreement that supports jobs, trade, and housing affordability.”

BCLTC is calling on both the Government of Canada and the U.S. Administration to make resolving the longstanding softwood lumber dispute a top economic priority.

“We believe the best way forward is through meaningful negotiation—not litigation,” Niquidet added. “A durable agreement would bring certainty to a critical cross-border supply chain and support the long-term interests of both countries.”

In the absence of a negotiated settlement, BCLTC will continue working closely with the Government of Canada and industry partners to defend Canadian interests through all available legal channels, including proceedings under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“Lumber producers in British Columbia compete in an open, market-based system and receive no unfair subsidies,” Niquidet emphasized. “We will continue to stand up for Canadian producers—and for the thousands of workers and communities whose livelihoods rely on a stable, rules-based trading relationship with the United States.”

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Media Contact: media@bclumbertrade.com