U.S. Levies 10% Softwood Customs Duty

(Bertrand Merotte — Globe & Mail)

The United States is slapping 10 per cent customs duties on four Canadian provinces on imports of softwood lumber products, saying Canada has failed to correct a breach of the softwood trade deal between the two countries.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a news release that the duties will remain in place until such time as the U.S. has collected $54.8-million (U.S.).

“We regret that Canada has chosen not to meet its commitments and has made this action necessary,” Mr. Kirk said in a statement.

An offer from Canada of $36.66-million last month was not considered to have fixed the breach identified by a trade tribunal in February, according to the U.S. trade office. Read more here.