U.S. in final decision to hike Canadian softwood duties, tells officers to collect

The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided to significantly increase countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, raising them from 6.74% to 14.63%. This hike, combined with already existing anti-dumping duties, results in a total duty of 35.19% for Canadian lumber. British Columbia's forest minister and business leaders have criticized the move, warning of its impact on construction costs in the U.S. and potential harm to communities reliant on forestry industries. The Canadian government is preparing to fight the decision through legal channels while also exploring solutions to support the industry.