Nova Scotia exports to be included in U.S. tariffs for now, says trade minister
Posted Apr 26, 2017 07:18:15 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – It looks like Nova Scotia will be included in the duties being slapped on softwood lumber exports to the United States.
Trade Minister Michel Samson said in a release Tuesday the U.S. has delayed a decision to exempt the province from increased border taxes until the fall, and in the meantime Nova Scotia companies will see their lumber exports have the tariffs tacked on.
It’s not clear what the exact number will be, but the duties across the country are on average in the 20 per cent range.
“We are disappointed by the announcement and by the decision to impose countervailing duties until a final decision is made,” said Samson, in a release.
“We remain determined to get excluded as quickly as possible as industry and government have worked very hard to validate our long-standing exclusion which reflects the fact that lumber producers here compete on a level playing field with United States industry.”
That historical exclusion has come from the fact that Nova Scotia companies do not enjoy the same subsidies as those in other provinces.
