Softwood Lumber

Softwood lumber is one of Canada's largest exports to the United States, with 21.5 billion board feet of lumber shipped in 2005 alone. Those exports were worth $8.5 billion and they continue to comprise an important element of the largest trading relationship in the world.

This trade matters to both Canadians and Americans. Canada’s forestry sector employs approximately 280,000 Canadians, and roughly 300 communities are dependent upon the forestry sector. U.S. lumber producers cannot meet domestic demand for softwood lumber: consequently, Canada now supplies over a third of the United States' consumption of this product. The U.S. housing and other industries, which employ over 7 million American workers, have come to rely upon unfettered access to this quality product.

Canada's softwood lumber industry does not operate at the expense of our environment. In fact, a study by Auburn University in Alabama ranked our forestry practices at a higher level for environmental protection than the United States. Canada only harvests one half of one percent of our commercial forests each year. We grow twice as much as is harvested. Almost one half of Canada's forests will never be harvested.

Resolving the softwood lumber dispute has been one of Canada's top trade priorities. To this end, on September 12, 2006, Canada and the United States signed the Softwood Lumber Agreement. This Agreement will promote a stable trade environment for the softwood lumber industry, see the return of most of the duties collected, and maximize the benefits to Canadian industry and to its workers and communities.

• Softwood Lumber - Introduction
• Softwood Lumber Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America - 2006
• Information regarding the methodology for the 2009 allocations to eligible exporters

Telephone:(613) 944-2167
Facsimile:(613) 944-8950
Email: softwood.boisdoeuvre@international.gc.ca

Exports Report

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Archived Reports

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• Notice to Exporters: Application for Saskatchewan Allocation SER-163
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: List of Allocation Holders for 2009 - SER-162
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: 2009 Export Allocation Methodologies - SER-161
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Applications for an Export Allocation - SER160
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Policy Respecting the Transfer of Export Allocations SER-158
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: List of Allocation Holders for 2008 SER-157
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: 2008 Export Allocation Methodologies SER-154
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Applications for an Export Allocation SER-153
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Export Allocation Methodologies SER-147
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Excluded Companies SER-150
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: List of Allocation Holders SER-149
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Applications for an Export Allocation SER-146
• Softwood Lumber Agreement in Force
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Entry Into Force of the Softwood Lumber Agreement and Transition Period Exports October 12 – December 31, 2006 SER-145
• British Columbia Regions: Designation of Region for British Columbia Softwood Lumber Producers PDF^* (222 KB)
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: Postponement of New Export Permit Requirements SER-144
• Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States - Permit Requirements SER-143

* If the documents are not accessible to you, please contact Foreign Affairs < International Trade Canada at the Administration and Technology Services Division (TIA), Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada, 125 promenade Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2; or Fax: 613-944-0138; e-mail: eics.scei@international.gc.ca to obtain an appropriate format.

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