The long trade battle over Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. seems to be heading for another critical point. With the Oct. 12 expiration of the two countries’ one-year moratorium on launching formal lumber trade actions against each other, a U.S. industry lumber group has threatened to file a complaint against Canada.
Although the yearlong “standstill” period is over , the U.S. and Canada are continuing their long-running negotiations aimed at a new pact governing Canada’s softwood lumber exports, the countries’ leading trade officials say. Softwood lumber is a key material in residential construction.