Softwood Lumber

01-03-2018 – United Stated Department of Commerce initiates the expedited review process in the ongoing trade remedy proceedings into certain softwood lumber products from Canada.

On March 1, 2018, the United States Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated the expedited review process in the ongoing U.S. trade remedy proceedings into certain softwood lumber products from Canada. The U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated expedited reviews for 33 of the 34 Canadian companies that requested such a review, and has granted a rescission request for the 34^th company, which will therefore not undergo an expedited review.

On March 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued initial questionnaires for each company undertaking a review.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website for further information on a variety of related topics, including the expected process, guidance provided by Commerce to date, next steps and deadlines.

01-02-2018 –United States Department of Commerce to toll (extend) all deadlines related to the ongoing countervailing (CVD) and anti-dumping (AD) duty trade remedy proceedings into certain softwood lumber products from Canada

On January 23, 2018, the Enforcement and Compliance section of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce), International Trade Administration, announced that it is exercising its discretion to toll all deadlines for the duration of the recent shutdown of the U.S. Federal Government. Deadlines will be extended by 3 days – the duration of the closure.

According to the U.S. memorandum, the day on which any submission to Enforcement and Compliance is due should be calculated under the regulations as usual, except with the addition of the number of shutdown days.

It includes deadlines for actions by Enforcement and Compliance (such as preliminary and final determinations in investigations and administrative reviews in AD/CVD proceedings), as well as deadlines for actions by parties to our proceedings (such as the submission of AD/CVD questionnaire responses, supplemental questionnaire responses, pre- and post-hearing briefs, etc.).

If the new deadline falls on a weekend or a Federal holiday, in accordance with past practice, the deadline will be moved to the next business day.

01-02-2018 – Partial refund of specified anti-dumping duty cash deposits for certain softwood lumber products from Canada pursuant to the amended final anti-dumping determination for the period 08-11-2017 through 02-01-2018

On January 24, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) issued instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorizing refunds for the difference between the original anti-dumping final determination duty rate and the amended anti-dumping final determination duty rate, for certain softwood lumber products from Canada. The refunds apply only to certain shipments entered from November 8, 2017 (the date of publication of the original anti-dumping final determination in the U.S. Federal Register) through to January 2, 2018 (the day before the date of publication of the amended anti-dumping final determination in the Federal Register). 

Consistent with past practice, and in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1520(a)(4) of the U.S. statute, which authorizes the refund of excess cash deposits prior to liquidation, Commerce instructions state that CBP is authorized to grant a refund, if requested by the importer, of cash deposits for entries of certain softwood lumber products (see chart below) which were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period November 8, 2017 through January 2, 2018.

The instructions indicate that the refund amount will be calculated by determining the difference between the amount of cash deposits paid as a result of the application of the final anti-dumping duty rate and the amount due as a result of the application of the amended final anti-dumping duty rate.

Amended final anti-dumping rates:

Please direct any questions or comments to Global Affairs Canada: softwood.boisdoeuvre@international.gc.ca

Minister Freeland issued a statement regarding the imposition today by the United States of final countervailing and anti-dumping duties on imports of certain Canadian softwood lumber products.