OTTAWA — Canada is challenging the U.S. decision late last year to maintain duties on exports of Canadian softwood lumber, Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement on Wednesday, July 18.

According to a Reuters report, Ng said Canada had launched its challenge under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade deal. The two countries have been arguing for decades about the lumber exports, which U.S. producers say are unfairly subsidized.

In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce released its final determination of a combined anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 7.99% in the fourth annual review of traded Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The review covers lumber imported in the calendar year 2021.

The ruling has garnered praise in the U.S. and consternation amongst lumber industry and government officials in Canada.