AB-2025-07558 - Forest Products Trade - Expert Services

The primary objective of the project is to procure a third party assessment of Alberta’s timber pricing and management systems for use in the Province’s legal defense against U.S. allegations of subsidy in on-going softwood lumber litigation. Specifically, project deliverables will provide fundamental record evidence for Alberta and respondent Alberta companies to advance arguments against U.S. subsidy claims, and resulting countervailing duties (CVD) assessed by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in annual administrative review determinations. Duties directly impact Alberta's U.S. market access and, consequently, affect the viability and competitiveness of its softwood lumber producers. The retention of expert services specializing in forestry operations, forest products manufacturing and economics will also assist the Province in strategic tariff analysis and/or defence of other forest products given the current and broad U.S. trade agenda. The Province is requesting a 5-year contract.

For context, Canadian softwood lumber continues to be the subject of trade remedy investigations by the DOC. Since initiation of the CVD investigation in 2016, Alberta has vigorously defended its forest management systems and other programs against allegations of subsidy. Applicable CVD rates are established in accordance with results of the DOC’s annual administrative review process. As part of the process, Alberta, and others parties to the investigation are required to respond to DOC questionnaires, providing factual information for the current period of review. This information becomes part of the administrative record upon which the DOC determines updated CVD rates. Alberta softwood lumber exporters are currently subject to combined CVD/anti-dumping duty (AD) rates between 26.47 and 47.59 per cent as assessed by the DOC in its sixth administrative review determinations.