Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
U.S. cuts duties on most Canadian softwood lumber to 24.75%
The U.S. lowered duties on most Canadian softwood lumber after an annual review.
The Commerce Department set the anti-dumping and countervailing duties at 24.75%, down from about 35%.
A separate 10% U.S. tariff remains, putting the total charge at roughly 35%.
The change affects Canadian exporters, including New Brunswick companies such as J.D. Irving, Arbec, H.J. Crabbe & Sons and Marwood.
The U.S. says Canadian lumber benefits from unfair subsidies because provincial governments charge fees for timber from public land, while most U.S. forest land is privately owned.
The duties have been applied since a Canada-U.S.
softwood trade deal expired in 2015.
The new rates take effect after publication in the Federal Register.
The U.S. Department of Commerce lowered antidumping and countervailing duties on most Canadian softwood lumber to 24.75%.
The new rate followed the department’s latest annual review and will take effect after publication in the Federal Register.
A separate 10% U.S. tariff means total duties on lumber imports are 34.75%.
The combined rate is down from roughly 45% faced by Canadian producers over the last year.
The U.S. says Canadian lumber benefits from unfair subsidies through provincial stumpage fees on Crown land.
- Who
- The U.S. Department of Commerce lowered the duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
- What
- Antidumping and countervailing duties were set at 24.75%. With a separate 10% tariff, total duties are 34.75%.
- When
- The final rates were issued on October 13, 2026. They take effect after publication in the Federal Register.
- Where
- At the U.S. border on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
- Why
- The reduction followed the department’s annual review. The U.S. alleges Canadian lumber is unfairly subsidized by provincial stumpage fees on Crown land.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The U.S. Department of Commerce released preliminary findings in its seventh set of administrative reviews.
The department issued final antidumping and countervailing duty rates totaling 24.75%.
The new rates will take effect.
- Antidumping and countervailing duties
- 24.75%
- Separate tariff
- 10%
- Total duties
- 34.75%
- Previous combined rate
- Roughly 45%
- Final rates issued
- October 13, 2026