Canada will appeal last week's decision by a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel to allow the United States to use "zeroing" to calculate lumber anti-dumping tariffs, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday. "We firmly believe that the U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber are unfair and unwarranted," Freeland said in a statement. Canada had launched the technical dispute with the WTO in 2017, saying it would forcefully defend its lumber industry, but last week's long-awaited decision sided with the United States. Trump said last year the United States could withdraw from the WTO if "they don't shape up." The U.S. Commerce Department had accused Canada of unfairly subsidizing and dumping softwood lumber, which is commonly used in home construction.

Source: CBC News April 15, 2019 17:26 UTC