Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/842358
palletcentral.com PalletCentral • May-June 2017 37 duty (CVD) rate of 19.88% will be levied against Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States. Individual rates will be assessed to the five companies that were investigated. They are: West Fraser, 24.12%; Canfor, 20.26%; Tolko, 19.50%; Resolute, 12.82%; and J.D. Irving, 3.02%. The weighted average of those five companies' rates determine the "all other" CVD rate of 19.88%. Special circumstances were found against J.D. Irving and "all other" Canadian companies, which means those duties will be retroactive 90 days from when the CVD determination is published in the Federal Register Notice. Mr. Ross said the tariff would be applied retroactively and imposed on Canadian exports to the U.S. of about $5 billion a year. Commerce Secretary Ross said the dispute centers on Canadian provinces that have been allegedly allowing loggers to cut trees down at improperly subsidized costs and sell them at lower prices. The Future of U.S. & Canada Softwood Lumber Trade In talking with various leaders in this industry, we have heard different stories about what to expect next. There's a feeling among some players that nothing can be done about the tariffs, which will inevitably rise. Others believe that it can be fought, reversed, or negotiated. There is more room for negotiation than recent media coverage would lead you to believe. With NAFTA renegotiation potentially coming up this year, and with the tepid response from Congress to Trump's recent outline of priorities on this treaty, almost any outcome is still on the table. The U.S. softwood producers have shown strength in their win this round, while forces on the other side are quickly mobilizing. They realize that, in a battle like this, if you don't show up to fight, you could easily become a casualty. The players in favor of the increased tariff include virtually all of the U.S. lumber producers and their trade groups, lawmakers from logging states, local community leaders from those areas where U.S. logging jobs are