A preliminary decision to reduce steep border tariffs on Canadian lumber imports is a step in the right direction, but a long way from relief for the struggling B.C. industry, the B.C. Council of Forest Industries says.
A preliminary finding by the U.S. Commerce Department on the long-running trade dispute could cut the border duties by half, but that won香蕉视频直播檛 be clear until a final adjudication in August, COFI president Susan Yurkovich said Wednesday.
And the ruling is for 香蕉视频直播渁dministrative review one,香蕉视频直播� a period ending in 2019 when the North American lumber industry was making its highest returns ever. 香蕉视频直播淎dministrative review two香蕉视频直播� began on Jan. 1, and could result in further penalties on Canada香蕉视频直播檚 producers.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 Groundhog Day,香蕉视频直播� Yurkovich said of the continuing claims of 香蕉视频直播渄umping香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渋njury香蕉视频直播� coming from U.S. producers. 香蕉视频直播淲e continue to keep fighting but it香蕉视频直播檚 a very long process and it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 provide immediate relief to our industry.香蕉视频直播�
The heaviest import duties fall on B.C.-based companies, with West Fraser facing a total of more than 23 per cent. Tolko is penalized 22 per cent and Canfor duties total more than 20 per cent, combining countervailing and anti-dumping penalties.
The latest finding has one glimmer of hope for B.C., Yurkovich said.
香蕉视频直播淭he one positive is that they香蕉视频直播檙e finally starting to recognize that there might be a difference for beetle-killed wood,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey had never recognized that before and they didn香蕉视频直播檛 include any provision for that.香蕉视频直播�
The U.S. Lumber Coalition issued indicating it is undeterred by the preliminary finding, and applauding the continued investigation.
香蕉视频直播淭he U.S. softwood lumber industry is pleased that the U.S. government is fully enforcing our trade laws,香蕉视频直播� said Jason Brochu, co-chair of the U.S. coalition. 香蕉视频直播淐anada香蕉视频直播檚 massive subsidies to their lumber industry have caused real harm to U.S. producers and workers. The U.S. lumber industry will continue to push for the full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws during this ongoing process.香蕉视频直播�
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Another decision is expected from Canada香蕉视频直播檚 appeal to the World Trade Organization, which held two hearings in 2019. The WTO has ruled in Canada香蕉视频直播檚 favour in previous rounds, on U.S. claims that buying Crown-owned timber represents an unfair subsidy to Canadian construction materials.
The first round was in 1982, and the fifth remains in place in 2020.
In the meantime, companies continue to pay penalties into a U.S. government fund.
香蕉视频直播淲hen all of the appeals are exhausted and all of the administrative reviews are completed, in theory those cash deposits are refunded to the companies,香蕉视频直播� Yurkovich said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 their business strategy. Harm your competitors rather than getting more efficient or focusing on growing the market.香蕉视频直播�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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