Unifor welcomes partial Atlantic exclusion from softwood duties

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Ottawa—Forestry workers welcomed the news that the U.S. is dropping Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia from the Commerce Department’s tariff investigations.

“The ad hoc exclusion of three provinces from duties confirms what we’ve stated all along: there is no legal basis for duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “This hardship can be avoided—the federal government must get to a negotiated solution as soon as possible.”

The U.S. Commerce Department posted a notice online today stating that the three provinces do not require further investigation for anti-dumping or countervailing duties on softwood lumber exports.

Unifor asserts that any duties on softwood exports are unwarranted and will cause job loss in one of Canada’s largest industries. The forestry industry employs more than 200,000 workers in Canada in 650 communities across the country.

“This announcement shows that the U.S. didn’t do their homework before imposing duties in April,” said Doherty. “The U.S. case against the remaining provinces is also weak. Unifor will continue to fight for Canadian forestry workers.”

New Brunswick was not included in the exemptions announced today. Unifor says this is concerning because historically the province has been treated similar to the other Atlantic provinces because its lumber industry has similar policy conditions.

For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at @email or 778-903-6549 (cell).