Lumber producers will have to wait awhile longer before knowing if the US Department of Commerce will go ahead with a major cut to its anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber. Source: Prince George Citizen
Originally expected to learn the outcome in August, they will now have to wait until the end of September, according to a note in West Fraser Timber’s first quarter financial results. It said the delay is due to a “tolling of all administrative review deadlines by up to 50 days,” invoked on 24 April.
In early February, the USDC issued the preliminary results of its first administrative review of the duties that suggested British Columbia (BC) lumber producers could see duties cut by more than half.
Since 28 December 2017 Canadian producers have been paying 20.23% at the US border, with three major BC-based producers – Canfor, Tolko and West Fraser – facing even higher duties.
The USDC’s proposed cash deposit rate would drop to 8.21%. Canfor would see its deposit rate drop from 20.52% down to 4.63%; West Fraser’s deposit rate would drop from 23.56% to 9.08%; and Tolko’s rate would drop from 22.07% to 8.21%.
The start of an administrative review for a second period of investigation will also be delayed, West Fraser said.
