Canada drops 2 appeals of U.S. anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber

Canada has dropped two legal challenges of United States duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

The U.S. has long accused Canada’s softwood lumber sector of violating rules on anti-dumping — flooding a market with cheaper, subsidized products to disrupt a domestic industry.

The U.S. Commerce Department announced plans last month to nearly triple duties on Canadian softwood lumber to just over 20 per cent.

The Wall Street Journal first reported this week that Canada dropped long-standing appeals earlier this month on two U.S. anti-dumping reviews dating back to the previous decade.

Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Dina Destin says Canada made the decision after consulting with industry players and provinces, and in the interest of securing a long-term deal on softwood lumber with the Unit