Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute
Last updated on October 4, 2024British Columbia and the forest industry have been engaged for decades with the United States in ongoing Softwood Lumber trade litigation. The 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement provided stability and predictability until its expiry on October 12, 2015, triggering the latest round in the lumber dispute.
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Current state of Softwood Lumber trade with the U.S.
On November 25, 2016, the Committee Overseeing Action for Lumber International Trade Investigations or Negotiations ( “COALITION”) filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce, alleging Canadian lumber is unfairly subsidized and dumped into the U.S. market, launching the “Lumber V” proceedings. B.C. is well prepared to respond to this litigation and will continue to defend B.C.'s interests against these unfounded allegations. B.C. is working alongside the federal government, other Provinces and the forest industry to respond to the ongoing litigation that imposes countervailing duties and anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber. We also seek recourse through appeals to the US Court of International Trade, the World Trade Organization, and under the Canada/US/Mexico Agreement (formerly NAFTA).
- Additional Lumber V update information may be found on the Government of Canada website
- Learn more about the current litigation
- Learn more about the appeals challenges and decisions
Recent news
September 24, 2024: AR5 Amended Final Rates
The U.S. Department of Commerce published amended final results of the antidumping (AD) case for the fifth Administrative Review (AR5) in the Federal Register; rates are effective September 24, 2024.
| Company | CDV - AR5 |
AD - AR5 (Amended) |
Total - AR5 (Amended) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 6.14% | 10.44% | 16.58% |
| West Fraser | 6.85% | 5.04% | 11.89% |
| JD Irving | 3.88% | 7.66% | 11.54% |
| Tolko | 9.61% | 7.66% | 17.27% |
| All Others | 6.74% | 7.66% | 14.40% |
The above table shows final amended rates for the fifth Administrative Review released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. These amended cash deposit rates took effect on September 24, 2024, the original Federal Register publication date of the final results.
August 12, 2024: AR5 Final Determination
The U.S. Department of Commerce released its final determinations for the fifth Administrative Review (AR5) in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of certain softwood lumber products from Canada.
The final determination rates are listed in the table below. See the U.S. Federal Register Notice for final results of the AD (PDF, 227KB) and CVD (PDF, 209KB) investigations; rates are effective August 19, 2024.
- Government of British Columbia Statements
- Government of Canada Statement
- U.S. Department of Commerce Final Determination Memo of AR5 AD investigation (PDF, 677KB)
- U.S. Department of Commerce Final Determination Memo of AR5 CVD investigation (PDF, 1.9 MB)
| Company | CVD - AR5 | AD - AR5 | Total - AR5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 6.14% | 10.44% | 16.58% |
| West Fraser | 6.85% | 5.32% | 12.17% |
| JD Irving | 3.88% | 7.80% | 11.68% |
| Tolko | 9.61% | 7.80% | 17.41% |
| All Others | 6.74% | 7.80% | 14.54% |
May 6, 2024: NAFTA Chapter 19 Panel Ruling - CVD
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Chapter 19 panel ruling on the United States Department of Commerce's final countervailing duty determination has been issued.
April 30, 2024: U.S. Department of Commerce Revised AD Decision
The United States Department of Commerce issued its revised antidumping decision in response to the October 2023 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Chapter 19 panel ruling.
March 5, 2024: AR6 Initiation Notice
The U.S. Department of Commerce initiated the Sixth Administrative Reviews (AR6) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders for certain softwood lumber products from Canada. Each year (unless the case is settled), administrative reviews are conducted to recalculate the countervailing and antidumping duty rates for shipments during the period of review (January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023) and to establish new cash deposit rates for future shipments. A company is subject to the reviews if there has been a specific request for review of that company filed by interested parties with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
February 1, 2024: AR5 Preliminary Determination
The U.S. Department of Commerce released its preliminary determinations for the fifth administrative review (AR5) of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) duties on certain softwood lumber products from Canada.
The preliminary determinations do not have any impact on current duties or cash deposit rates. Rates will not change until the U.S. Department of Commerce issues its final determination, expected in August 2024. The preliminary determination rates are listed in the table below. See the U.S. Federal Register Notice for preliminary results of the AD (PDF, 242KB) and CVD (PDF, 235KB) investigations.
| Company | CVD - AR5 | AD - AR5 | Total - AR5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 6.14% | 9.65% | 15.79% |
| West Fraser | 6.74% | 5.33% | 12.07% |
| JD Irving | 3.88% | 7.15% | 11.03% |
| Tolko | 9.61% | 7.15% | 16.76% |
| All Others | 6.71% | 7.15% | 13.86% |
​November 30, 2023: ITC Sunset Review Decision
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued their sunset review decision. The ITC voted in favour of keeping the orders in place, which means that exports of softwood lumber from Canada will continue to be subject to antidumping and countervailing duties. Results of the sunset review will become official once the final determination is published in the U.S. Federal Register, expected late December 2023 or early January 2024.
The sunset review is a requirement under U.S. law for the ITC and U.S. Department of Commerce to review existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders every five years to determine if they are still needed.
Rate tables
| Company | CVD - AR5 |
AD - AR5 (Amended) |
Total - AR5 (Amended) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 6.14% | 10.44% | 16.58% |
| West Fraser | 6.85% | 5.04% | 11.89% |
| JD Irving | 3.88% | 7.66% | 11.54% |
| Tolko | 9.61% | 7.66% | 17.27% |
| All Others | 6.74% | 7.66% | 14.40% |
The above table shows final amended rates for the fifth Administrative Review released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. These amended cash deposit rates took effect on September 24, 2024, the original Federal Register publication date of the final results.
| Company |
CVD - AR4 |
AD - AR4 (Amended) |
Total - AR4 (Amended) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 1.36% | 5.25% | 6.61% |
| West Fraser | 2.19% | 7.06% | 9.25% |
| JD Irving | 1.72% | 6.26% | 7.98% |
| All Others | 1.79% | 6.26% | 8.05% |
The above table shows final amended rates for the fourth Administrative Review released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. These amended cash deposit rates took effect on August 1, 2023, the original Federal Register publication date of the final results.
| Company | CVD - AR3 | AD - AR3 | Total - AR3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | .95% | 4.92% | 5.87% |
| West Fraser | 3.62% | 4.63% | 8.25% |
| Resolute | 10.1% | 4.76% | 14.86% |
| JD Irving | 2.41% | 11.59% | 14.0% |
| All Others | 3.83% | 4.76% | 8.59% |
| Company |
CVD - AR2 |
AD - AR2 |
Total - AR2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 2.42% | 17.12% | 19.54% |
| West Fraser | 5.08% | 6.06% | 11.14% |
| Resolute | 18.07% | 11.59% | 29.66% |
| JD Irving | 3.46% | 11.59% | 15.05% |
| All Others | 6.32% | 11.59% | 17.91% |
| Company | CVD - AR1 Cash Deposit |
AD - AR1 Cash Deposit |
Total - AR1 Cash Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 2.63% | 1.99% | 4.62% |
| J.D. Irving | 2.66% | 1.57% | 4.23% |
| Resolute | 19.10% | 1.15% | 20.25% |
| West Fraser | 7.57% | 1.40% | 8.97% |
| All Others | 7.42% | 1.57% | 8.99% |
| Company | CVD - AR1 Assessment | AD - AR1 Assessment | Total - AR1 Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canfor | 2.94% | 1.99% | 4.93% |
| J.D. Irving | 3.43% | 1.57% | 5.00% |
| Resolute | 18.71% | 1.15% | 19.86% |
| West Fraser | 6.76% | 1.40% | 8.16% |
| All Others | 7.26% | 1.57% | 8.83% |
- Panel report (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Government of British Columbia Statement
- Government of Canada Statement
- U.S. Department of Commerce Redetermination (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Government of British Columbia Statement
- U.S. Federal Register: Initiation Notice of AR6 (PDF, 296KB)
- Government of British Columbia Statement
- Government of Canada Statement
- Government of British Columbia Statement
- Government of Canada Statement
Important information
Related information
Contact information
Economics and Trade Branch
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