The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) recently released its preliminary determinations for the sixth administrative review of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada. Administrative reviews are conducted once a year at the request of an interested party after an antidumping or countervailing duty order is put into effect. This review covers imports of softwood lumber products from Canada that entered into the United States during the period of January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

The DOC preliminarily determined that softwood lumber products from Canada were being dumped into the United States at preliminary margin rates ranging from 9.48 percent to 34.61 percent. Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada- Preliminary Results of Administrative Review 2023.pdf

These preliminary margin rates are greater than the final antidumping margin rates determined in the previous administrative review.  Particularly, the preliminary margin rate for non-selected companies, which applies to most Canadian companies, increased to 20.07 percent, up from 7.66 percent determined in the previous administrative review.

The DOC preliminarily determined that countervailable subsidies were being provided to producers and exporters of certain softwood lumber products from Canada at preliminary subsidy rates ranging from 11.87 percent to 16.57 percent. Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada- Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review 2023.pdf

These preliminary subsidy rates are greater than the final subsidy rates determined in the previous administrative review.  Particularly, the preliminary subsidy rate for non-selected companies increased to 14.38 percent, up from 6.74 percent determined in the previous administrative review.

The preliminary determinations do not have any impact on current cash deposit rates. Current deposit rates will not change until the DOC makes its final determinations and publishes them in the Federal Register later this year. The duty rates determined in the final administrative review will apply to all entries after that date.

The DOC intends to issue the final results of this administrative review not later than 120 days after the date of publication of the preliminary results, unless extended. The final results of the antidumping review are expected not later than July 3, 2025, and the final results of the countervailing duty review are expected not later than August 7, 2025.