Commerce levels tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber; Canada pledges a ‘vigorous’ defense

The Commerce Department's decision to hit Canadian exporters of softwood lumber with tariffs of up to 24 percent, announced on Monday, sparked an immediate and defiant reaction from Canada even as the country insisted a new negotiated agreement remained the best possible solution. Canada will “vigorously defend the interests of the Canadian softwood lumber industry, including through litigation,” Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said in a joint statement . The Commerce Department...