Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Softwood spat due to housing shortage

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Jan, 2024 05:44 PM
  • Softwood spat due to housing shortage

Canada's international trade minister says the great North American softwood lumber standoff is putting a drag on the continent's already tight housing supply. 

Mary Ng says Ottawa will contest the U.S. International Trade Commission's latest decision to maintain "unjustified" duties on imports of Canadian softwood. 

The commission ruled late last month that lifting the duties would result in what it calls "material injury" to the U.S. forestry industry. 

Ng says maintaining the duties makes no sense at a time when both Canada and the U.S. are struggling with housing affordability and supply. 

She says the challenge will be filed under the dispute resolution procedures contained in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known north of the border as CUSMA. 

Global Affairs Canada says the decision to challenge the finding was made in consultation with affected provinces, stakeholders and industry leaders. 

"Canada is disappointed that the United States continues to impose unwarranted and unjust duties on Canadian softwood lumber products," Ng said in a statement. 

"These duties impact our innovative Canadian softwood industry. And with the significant current challenges in housing supply and affordability, these duties also harm U.S. consumers and businesses that need Canadian lumber."

The commission's decision, effective Dec. 28, said lifting the duties "would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time." 

It was part of a "sunset review," a recurring five-year procedure to re-examine the justification for duty orders as required by federal law.  

In October, Canada cheered a decision by a NAFTA dispute panel that found aspects of how the U.S. calculates softwood lumber duties that are inconsistent with federal law. 

Under the U.S. Tariff Act, the Department of Commerce determines whether goods are being sold at less than fair value or if they're benefiting from subsidies provided from foreign governments.

In Canada, lumber-producing provinces set so-called stumpage fees for timber harvested from Crown land, a system that U.S. producers — forced to pay market rates — consider an unfair subsidy.

"At every opportunity, we continue to raise the issue of unjustified U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber and underline the need to find an acceptable resolution of this dispute that works for our two countries and their businesses," Ng said.

"Canada remains ready and willing to discuss a resolution that provides the stability and predictability the sector needs to ensure its continued growth and success."

MORE National ARTICLES

Flu season officially in Canada

Flu season officially in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada says flu season is officially underway in this country.  The rate of tests that were positive for flu stayed above the agency's threshold of five per cent for two consecutive weeks.  

Flu season officially in Canada

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast
A bulletin has been issued warning residents in south western British Columbia to prepare for an atmospheric river bearing down on the area. The statement from the Ministry of Emergency Management says Environment Canada is forecasting a series of storms bringing heavy rain until Thursday, with a peak expected on Tuesday.

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning
Police in Vancouver say they're investigating how a man mysteriously fell ill from fentanyl poisoning following a brief encounter with a stranger last week. They say in a statement that investigators are focused on how the 56-year-old man, who does not use drugs, was exposed to the powerful opioid, and whether the incident involved a criminal offence.  

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry
The B-C government says it's launching a pilot project to support the restaurant industry.  The province says it’s putting 380-thousand dollars into a two-year pilot project to help with recruiting and retaining more workers.  

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry

Shots fired in Burnaby

Shots fired in Burnaby
Mounties in Burnaby say they're investigating reports of shots being fired on a busy street in the city on Thursday. Police say they located a truck riddled with bullet holes when they arrived, but there were no injuries reported following the shooting.

Shots fired in Burnaby

Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?

Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?
Kay Matthews doesn't mince words when asked about the state of businesses fighting to survive in downtown cores across Ontario. The experiences in Ontario's cities are echoed across Canada, as downtowns grapple with high vacancy rates, the post-pandemic work culture and the prospect that crowds of office workers may never return in full.  

Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?