Binational Panel Issues Decision on Softwood Lumber Dispute

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On October 8, 2026, a Binational Panel made a significant decision regarding softwood lumber products from Canada. This decision was part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) under Article 10.12. The panel reviewed the Final Determination on countervailing duties for softwood lumber from Canada.

The panel affirmed some parts of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s determination. However, it also required a remand on other parts. This means some elements need to be reviewed further.

The review covers the countervailing duty administrative review for the years 2017 to 2018. The case number for this is USA-CDA-2020-10.12-01.

The USMCA provides a way to settle disputes between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. If there is a trade remedy determination, a Binational Panel can review it. The panel’s decisions are binding.

To learn about the panel’s procedures, you can look at the Article 10.12 Binational Panel Reviews rules. These rules were agreed upon by all three countries in the agreement.

For more information, contact Vidya Desai, who is the United States Secretary for the USMCA Secretariat. She can be found at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC.

This update was provided by Vidya Desai on October 8, 2026. The official document number is 2026-20894.

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