Canada initiates WTO dispute proceedings on US softwood lumber duties
Canada has requested WTO consultations with the United States regarding US anti-dumping and countervailing duties
imposed on imports of softwood lumber from Canada. The requests were circulated to WTO members on 30 November.
Canada considers the US anti-dumping and countervailing measures to be inconsistent with provisions of the WTO's
Agreement on Anti-dumping, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade 1994.
Further information is available in documents WT/DS533/1 and WT/DS534/1
What is a request for consultations?
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to
discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if
consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.