U.S.-Canada Trade Spat Set to Sharpen as Lumber Decision Nears
- Anti-dumping duties may be as high as 15%: RBC analyst
- Lumber futures in Chicago have jumped on supply concerns
Pine trees stand in this aerial photograph taken above a forest near Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada.
Photographer: David Ryder/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. is setting the stage to heighten one of its most-contested trade battles with Canada this month as a decision over lumber duties nears.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is scheduled to announce whether it will impose preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber by the end of June. The U.S. already escalated the row in April by slapping tariffs of up to 24.1 percent on Canadian shipments. This month’s decision may bring the combined duties to more than 30 percent according to RBC Capital Markets. The fees would be levied against companies such as West Fraser Timber Co. and Canfor Corp.