Commerce extends decision on preliminary CVD

As expected, the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it is postponing a decision in the preliminary determination in the CVD case against Canadian lumber imports until April 24 due to the complexity of the case. Under the statute, Commerce is given 65 to 130 days to issue a preliminary determination. As has happened in previous CVD cases in the U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute, Commerce will take the full amount of time allotted to render a decision. If a CVD duty is affirmed on April 24, it would be published in the Federal Register about a week later, around the beginning of May. At that time cash deposits would be required. If it is ruled that “critical circumstances” apply in this case, duties could be applied retroactively up to 90 days, or around the beginning of February.