Softwood lumber

The softwood lumber industry is an important sector in the Canadian economy, supporting thousands of jobs in communities across Canada and creating many positive spin-off effects in related industries and services. Canada's modern, efficient, environmentally sustainable lumber companies have the potential to serve markets at home and around the world.

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In the United States, where demand for lumber exceeds what domestic mills can supply, housing and other industries rely on Canada for stable, predictable access to quality products. The 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), which provided stability and predictability for industry on both sides of the border, expired on October 12, 2015.

Canada and the United States continue to pursue a negotiated outcome to this important bilateral issue. The Government is also meeting on a regular basis with industry, provinces and territories, and other stakeholders.

Softwood lumber dispute

The Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute has become one of the most enduring trade disputes between both nations. Over the past 25 years, the United States lumber industry has frequently sought U.S. government restrictions on Canadian softwood lumber imports through the application of U.S. countervailing duty and antidumping laws – laws that allow the imposition of import duties when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by subsidies in the exporting country (countervailing duties), or by dumping, which is when a U.S. industry is allegedly harmed by imported products sold at prices that are lower than the cost of production or lower than prices in the domestic market (anti-dumping duties).

News and recent developments

  • 21-05-2026 – United States Department of Commerce announces the selection of respondents for the eighth administrative reviews of the duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada

    On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce selected Resolute and West Fraser as mandatory respondents for the eighth administrative review of the softwood lumber countervailing duty order.

    On May 21, 2026, the U.S Department of Commerce also selected Resolute and West Fraser as mandatory respondents for the eighth administrative review of the softwood lumber anti-dumping duty order.

    For additional information on the administrative review process, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website.

  • 09-04-2026 – United States Department of Commerce announces the preliminary results of its seventh administrative reviews of the anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of certain Canadian softwood lumber products

    On April 9 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the preliminary results of its seventh administrative reviews of the anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of certain Canadian softwood lumber products.

    It is expected that the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue updated post-preliminary results in the coming months to account for assessments that are still underway.

    Preliminary results do not take effect but may serve as an indication of the final anti-dumping and countervailing duty rates, which are expected to be issued in August 2026, at the earliest, or October 2026, if fully extended.

    Preliminary Results – Seventh administrative reviews (Do not take effect)
    CompanyAnti-dumping ratesCountervailing duty ratesCombined duty rates
    Canfor Corporation16.85%14.17% (All Others)31.02%
    West Fraser Mills Ltd.4.77%15.93%20.70%
    Resolute FP Canada Inc13.25%11.70%24.95%
    Non-Selected Respondents (All Others)10.66%14.17%24.83%

  • 09-03-2026 – United States Department of Commerce initiates its eighth administrative reviews of the softwood lumber anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders

    On March 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce published the notice of initiation of its eighth administrative reviews of the softwood lumber anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders.

    The next step in administrative reviews is the selection of mandatory respondents, which is expected in early April 2026.

    For additional information on the administrative review process, please consult Frequently Asked Questions.

  • 14-10-2025 – United States Imposes Section 232 tariffs on certain wood products

    Following the conclusion of the U.S. national security investigation under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act on imports of wood products, U.S. President Trump imposed the following tariffs, effective as of 12:01 EST October 14:

    • 10% global tariff on imports of softwood timber and lumber;
    • 25% global tariff on certain upholstered furniture, which will increase to 30% on January 1, 2026; and,
    • 25% global tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities, which will increase to 50% on January 1, 2026.

    For more information regarding the Section 232 tariffs, as well as U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber, please refer to the Softwood Lumber Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

  • 17-09-2025 – Conclusion of the legal challenge to the first administrative review of the U.S. anti-dumping duty order on Canadian softwood lumber

    On September 17, 2025, the CUSMA Chapter 10 binational panel adjudicating the legal challenge to the first administrative review of the U.S. anti-dumping duty order on Canadian softwood lumber dismissed the case, acquiescing to the joint request made by implicated Canadian and U.S. parties.

  • 11-09-2025 – Canada challenges the U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber

    On August 28, 2025 and September 11, 2025 respectively, Canada launched legal challenges under Chapter 10 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) against the final results of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s sixth administrative reviews of the anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada.

    For additional information on Canada’s challenges, please consult the Frequently asked questions section of this website.

  • 11-09-2025 – Notice of amended final results of the anti-dumping duty sixth administrative review issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce

    On September 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce amended the notice of final results of its sixth administrative review of the anti-dumping duty order on certain softwood lumber products from Canada to correct Ministerial errors in the calculation of Canfor Corporation’s anti-dumping duty rate. This also resulted in a 0.03% decrease to the “all others” rate. This amendment will replace the final anti-dumping cash deposit rate previously published on July 25, 2025.

    Amended final duty rates:

    Sixth administrative review amended final results
    CompanyAnti-dumping ratesCountervailing duty ratesCombined duty rates
    Canfor Corporation35.47%12.12%47.59%
    West Fraser Mills Ltd.9.65%16.82%26.47%
    All Others20.53%14.63%35.16%

More news

Monthly Canada-US softwood lumber exports reports

2026

2025

    More softwood lumber historic reports

    Contact us

    Softwood Lumber Division (TNS)
    Global Affairs Canada
    Lester B. Pearson Building
    125 Sussex Drive
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
    Fax: 613-944-8950
    Email: softwood.boisdoeuvre@international.gc.ca

    For more information

    To learn more about the Canadian softwood lumber industry, and the support available to Canadians, please visit the Natural Resources Canada softwood lumber page.