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Softwood Lumber Background Information
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The history of Canada's softwood lumber disputes with the United States is a long one. The first skirmishes date back to disagreements between New Brunswick and Maine in the 1820s. The issue of lumber also figured prominently when the U.S. House of Representatives considered a reciprocity treaty with Canada in 1853, as well as in later disagreements throughout the late 1800s and 1900s.
After several subsequent disputes over Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the United States during the last two decades, in September 1996, Canada and the United States established the Softwood Lumber Agreement 1996 in order to manage this issue. Upon its expiry on March 31, 2001, U.S. lumber producers have once again sought to hinder imports of Canadian softwood lumber.
Prior to entry into force of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement 2006, Canada had taken legal challenges of the U.S. duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber. In addition to its challenges in the WTO and the NAFTA, Canada had also taken action in the U.S. Court of International Trade to secure the revocation of the CVD and AD duty orders and the refund, with interest, of duty deposits paid to date.
For an overview of the more recent history of this issue, see our chronology.
Canada's forest management practices are among the best in the world.
Additional inquiries may be made by writing to:
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Softwood Lumber Division (TNS)
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0G2
Courier address:
111 Sussex Drive
Sussex Pavilion, 4th Floor
Softwood Lumber Division (TNS)
Ottawa ON K1N 1J1
E-mail: tns@international.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-944-2167
Facsimile: 613-944-1452
