Softwood: Not Exactly Free Trade America began, in the 1980s, to add a tariff to Canadian wood products America began, in the 1980s, to add a tariff to Canadian wood products In 2002, the US added a 27% duty on Canadian lumber In 2002, the US added a 27% duty on Canadian lumber In 2003, a NAFTA court ruled that the US duties, now 19%, were still too high and that the US government should review its numbers In 2003, a NAFTA court ruled that the US duties, now 19%, were still too high and that the US government should review its numbers Shortly after the NAFTA ruling, the WTO also ruled that US duties were too harsh Shortly after the NAFTA ruling, the WTO also ruled that US duties were too harsh In 2005, the US was ordered to return $5 Billion to Canadian lumber companies, but refused to comply In 2005, the US was ordered to return $5 Billion to Canadian lumber companies, but refused to comply In April of 2006 Canada and the US finally reached an agreement that would see the US return 80% of the collected fees, and Canada would agree to have only a 34% share of the US softwood lumber market In April of 2006 Canada and the US finally reached an agreement that would see the US return 80% of the collected fees, and Canada would agree to have only a 34% share of the US softwood lumber market In September of 2006 an agreement was finally reached that would see $4 billion dollars returned to Canadian Lumber companies In September of 2006 an agreement was finally reached that would see $4 billion dollars returned to Canadian Lumber companies
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