Recently the U.S. Department of Commerce announced preliminary anti-dumping duties of 6.87 per cent to be applied to the majority of Canadian softwood lumber shipments entering the U.S.

The anti-dumping duty is on top of the previously announced preliminary countervailing duty of 19.88 per cent, for a total rate of 26.75 per cent.

Steve Zika, CEO of Hampton Affiliates - company that owns Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake Forest Products, said he doesn鈥檛 anticipate any changes to the company鈥檚 operating plans in 2017.

鈥淎s long as the global lumber market stays strong, we do not expect any layoffs from the trade duties at Babine and Decker Lake,鈥� he said.

Zika said Hampton Affiliates might benefit from having operations on both sides of the border.

鈥淭he Hampton sawmills in the U.S. may benefit in the short-term from restrictions on Canadian lumber, but we support a negotiated agreement that is fair to both Canada and the U.S. and a focus on joint efforts to increase the use of wood products in construction markets,鈥� he said.

鈥淥ur Canadian and U.S. mills sell a significant amount of lumber in many markets around the world, primarily in Asia, and we are always looking for new markets to diversify our customer base,鈥� he added.

B.C.鈥檚 newly appointed minister of forests John Rustad, who鈥檚 also the Nechako Lakes MLA, said that even though British Columbians knew this decision was coming, it doesn鈥檛 soften the blow.

鈥淭he only long-term solution is a negotiated trade agreement,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will ensure B.C.鈥檚 interests are protected in any such agreement.鈥�

鈥淭he alternative is to be subject to U.S. legal processes designed to favour a few select timber barons,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hese actions hurt Canadian companies and Canadian workers, but they also hurt U.S. homebuyers and the U.S. construction and renovation industry.鈥�

鈥淗istory shows that the American decisions on duties do not withstand legal scrutiny,鈥� he added. 鈥淥nce the final determinations have been made by the U.S. Department of Commerce, we鈥檒l be working closely with the federal government and B.C. industry on launching appeals.鈥�

Susan Yurkovich, president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, said the latest duty continues efforts of the U.S. lumber industry to restrict imports and drive up the price of their products.

鈥淭he ongoing allegations levelled by the U.S. industry are without merit,鈥� Yurkovich said. 鈥淭his was proven in the last round of litigation and we fully expect it will be again.鈥�

- With files from Tom Fletcher