Softwood lumber duties decrease after final determination

The U.S. Department of Commerce has recently announced its final determination of duties of 20.83 per cent to be applied to the majority of Canadian softwood lumber shipments entering the U.S. …“It was good to see the duty amounts reduced and the decision not to seek retroactive payments related to the countervailing duty,” said Steve Zika, Chief Executive Officer of Hampton Affiliates – company that owns Babine and Decker Lake Forest Products. …According to Zika, high lumber prices have helped to mitigate the impact of softwood lumber duties on Hampton Affiliates’ Burns Lake mills. He does not anticipate any layoffs in the near future. …Susan Yurkovich, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council, said “this trade action ultimately punishes American consumers who are now paying higher prices for Canadian lumber when they buy, build or renovate their homes.”