Softwood lumber

The softwood lumber industry is an important sector in the Canadian economy, supporting thousands of jobs in communities across Canada and creating many positive spin-off effects in related industries and services. Canada's modern, efficient, environmentally sustainable lumber companies have the potential to serve markets at home and around the world.

On this page

In the United States, where demand for lumber exceeds what domestic mills can supply, housing and other industries rely on Canada for stable, predictable access to quality products. The 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), which provided stability and predictability for industry on both sides of the border, expired on October 12, 2015.

Canada and the United States continue to pursue a negotiated outcome to this important bilateral issue. The Government is also meeting on a regular basis with industry, provinces and territories, and other stakeholders.

Softwood Lumber dispute

The Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute has become one of the most enduring trade disputes between both nations. Over the past 25 years, the United States lumber industry has frequently sought U.S. government restrictions on Canadian softwood lumber imports through the application of U.S. countervailing duty and antidumping laws – laws that allow the imposition of import duties when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by subsidies in the exporting country (countervailing duties), or by dumping, which is when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by imported products sold at prices that are lower than the cost of production or lower than prices in the domestic market (anti-dumping duties).

News and recent developments

  • 26-09-2024 – Notice of Amended Final Results of the Anti-dumping Duty Fifth Administrative Review issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce

    On September 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce amended the notice of final results for its fifth administrative review of the anti-dumping duty order on softwood lumber products from Canada to correct Ministerial errors in the calculation of West Fraser Mills Ltd.’s anti-dumping rate. This also resulted in a 0.14% decrease to the “all others” rate. This amendment will replace the final anti-dumping cash deposit rate previously published on August 19, 2024.

    Amended final duty rates:

    Fifth Administrative Review Amended Final Results
    CompanyAnti-dumping Duty Rates (2022)Countervailing Duty Rates (2022)Combined Duty Rates (2022)
    Canfor Corporation10.44%6.14%16.58%
    West Fraser Mills Ltd.5.04%6.85%11.89%
    J.D. Irving, Ltd.7.66% (All Others)3.88%11.54%
    Tolko Industries Ltd.7.66% (All Others)9.61%17.27%
    Non-Selected Respondents (All Others)7.66%6.74%14.40%

  • 09-09-2024 – Statement by Minister Ng on Canada’s Challenges to U.S. Softwood Lumber Duties

    On September 9, 2024, Canada announced that it is challenging the final results of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s fifth administrative reviews of the U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on softwood lumber products from Canada.

    The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, issued a statement regarding this development.

  • 13-08-2024 – Statement by Minister Ng on the final results of the U.S. fifth administrative review of duties on Canadian softwood lumber

    On August 13, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the final results of its fifth administrative reviews of the anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on softwood lumber products from Canada.

    The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, issued a statement regarding these duties.

    The new duty rates listed below will take effect once they are published in the U.S. Federal Register.

    For additional information on administrative reviews, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website.

    Fifth Administrative Review Final Results
    CompanyFinal anti-dumping duty ratesFinal countervailing duty ratesCombined final duty rates
    Canfor Corporation10.44%6.14%16.58%
    West Fraser Mills Ltd.5.32%6.85%12.17%
    J.D. Irving Ltd.7.80% (All Others)3.88%11.68%
    Tolko Industries Ltd.7.80% (All Others)9.61%17.41%
    All Others7.80%6.74%14.54%

More news

Monthly Canada-US softwood lumber exports reports

2024

More Softwood Lumber historic reports

Contact us

Softwood Lumber Division (TNS)
Global Affairs Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-8950
Email: softwood.boisdoeuvre@international.gc.ca

For more information

To learn more about the Canadian softwood lumber industry, and the support available to Canadians, please visit the Natural Resources Canada Softwood Lumber page.