Canada Drops Two Legal Challenges to US Antidumping Duties

Canada has withdrawn two long-standing legal challenges against US antidumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber, the Canadian Press reported (9-23-25). The Wall Street Journal reported that the appeals, tied to reviews from previous decades, were dropped earlier this month.

The US Commerce Department announced last month it would nearly triple duties on Canadian softwood lumber to just over 20%.

Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Dina Destin said the decision was made “in close consultation with Canadian industry, provinces, and key partners, and it reflects a strategic choice to maximize long-term interests and prospects for a negotiated resolution with the United States.” She added that Canada still considers the duties unfair and continues to pursue six other challenges.

The move comes as Ottawa signals it prefers to focus on resolving sector-specific tariffs from the Trump administration, rather than a wider trade and security deal. Most Canadian goods remain exempt under the Canada–US–Mexico Agreement, although tariffs persist on steel, aluminum, autos, and softwood lumber.

Prime Minister Mark Carney last month pledged a support package for the lumber industry, including CA$700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million for long-term measures to diversify markets and products.