(Vancouver) – Kurt Niquidet, Vice-President of the BC Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) made the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce announcement today regarding a preliminary average (“all others”) rate of 13.86% for countervailing duties and anti-dumping duties applied to 2022 shipments of BC softwood lumber to the United States, a marked increase over the prior "all others" rate of 8.05%.
“These duties continue to be unwarranted and unfair. This is particularly the case where Commerce appears to have departed from certain long-standing methodologies at the urging of U.S. industry, resulting in the increased rates announced today. Although these rates are not yet finalized, they continue to misrepresent reality: B.C. and Canadian producers are not subsidized and are not dumping in the U.S. market.”
“Unjustified tariffs hurt U.S. consumers by increasing the cost of lumber and building materials, at a time when the shortage of affordable housing is having a severe impact on families across the country.”
“BCLTC will continue to vigorously defend the interests of B.C. producers both before Commerce in this administrative review, and before CUSMA panels in the related appeals. Unfortunately, the delays in the appeal process have made it increasingly difficult for Canadian parties to defend their interests in a timely fashion, and these delays must be addressed and resolved.”
“B.C. is the largest Canadian exporter of softwood lumber to the U.S. The B.C. forest industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy and supports approximately 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the province. The BC Lumber Trade Council is the voice on trade matters for companies in B.C. representing the majority of lumber production in the province.”
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Media Contact:
Travis Joern
778-846-3465
www.bclumbertrade.com
@BCLumberTrade