Trade Minister Cites Housing Shortage as Cause for Ceasefire in US Softwood Spat

Canada’s international trade minister says the great North American softwood lumber standoff is putting a drag on the continent’s already tight housing supply. Mary Ng says Ottawa will contest the U.S. International Trade Commission’s latest decision to maintain “unjustified” duties on imports of Canadian softwood. The commission ruled late last month that lifting the duties would result in what it calls “material injury” to the U.S. forestry industry. Ms. Ng says maintaining the duties makes no sense at a time when both Canada and the U.S. are struggling with housing affordability and supply. She says the challenge will be filed under the dispute resolution procedures contained in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known north of the border as CUSMA....