US duties have forced BC softwood lumber producers to look overseas
Posted August 29, 2017 7:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Local lumber producers are getting a temporary break on preliminary duties for US-bound shipments, but others have already said goodbye to business in the States.
A large portion of preliminary duties in place for four months have ended, pending a final decision. US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced late Monday that the Department of Commerce postponed the final determinations in the anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty investigations of imports of softwood lumber from Canada until no later than November 14th.
Bob Matters with the Steelworkers Wood Council says the preliminary duties imposed on Canadian companies meant producers shipped significantly less lumber to the United States during the past three or four months.
“That was obviously a result of the duties being put on place and the retroactive duties the Americans put on.”
“So, Canadian producers have somewhat reduced output, tried to get some more markets overseas other than the US. And it certainly has been an expensive proposition for those continuing to ship to the US.”
So are companies celebrating now that the duties have been lifted, for now?
“They’re certainly not going to be upset, but they’re going to be concerned and worried about re-entering the US market if they think the door can be slammed on them again in the near future.”
