Ottawa is vowing to defend the forest industry after the United States decided to impose duties as high as 24% on Canadian softwood lumber.
In a statement, Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland say they strongly disagree with the U.S. decision and call the tax unfair and punitive.
Freeland calls the countervailing duties “baseless and unfounded”.
The government says the move will negatively affect workers on both sides of the border and will ultimately increase costs for American families who want to build or renovate their homes.
The impact of the duties on some forest companies is starting to come out and it will be 12.82% for Resolute Forest Products.
