The federal government in Ottawa is pushing back against the latest U.S. decision to keep imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

Canada has filed for a judicial review of last month91裸聊视频檚 Commerce Department assessment of the levies, which International Trade Minister Mary Ng described in a statement as 91裸聊视频渦nfair, unjust and illegal.91裸聊视频�

Ng framed the move as an effort to escalate the concerns of exporters while adding an impetus on the U.S. to consider a negotiated solution to a dispute that has plagued Canada-U.S. relations for decades.

91裸聊视频淲e have to continue to explore new ways (to resolve it), because the industry expects us, expects me and expects my government to 91裸聊视频� (and) so do their workers,91裸聊视频� she said Tuesday during a cabinet retreat in Charlottetown.

91裸聊视频淚t would be much, much more preferable that we get to the negotiating table, and let91裸聊视频檚 come together and let91裸聊视频檚 have a deal. But in the meantime, we91裸聊视频檙e going to use all the tools at our disposal to stand up for the industry.91裸聊视频�

The latest administrative review by the U.S. Commerce Department resulted in a modest decrease in the so-called 91裸聊视频渁ll others91裸聊视频� combined duty rate, but kept it in place at 7.99 per cent.

In Canada, lumber-producing provinces set so-called stumpage fees for timber harvested from Crown land, a system that U.S. producers 91裸聊视频� forced to pay market rates 91裸聊视频� say amounts to an unfair subsidy.

It91裸聊视频檚 not the first time Ng has pushed her U.S. counterparts to help hammer out a solution. But U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has said negotiations can only happen once Canada does away with its stumpage fee regime.

91裸聊视频淲e continue to share with the Canadians that we are committed to the robust enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws,91裸聊视频� Tai91裸聊视频檚 office said in a statement.

Pushing back against 91裸聊视频渦nfairly traded Canadian imports91裸聊视频� remains a priority for the Biden administration, it added.

91裸聊视频淲e are prepared to discuss another softwood lumber agreement when Canada is ready to address the underlying issues related to subsidization and fair competition so that Canadian lumber imports do not injure the U.S. industry.91裸聊视频�

Canada, meanwhile, has successfully argued at World Trade Organization dispute panels in the past that its stumpage-fee system is not a subsidy, which is exactly why the government feels it remains in the right, Ng said.

91裸聊视频淚 mean, it has ruled exactly that conclusion to Canada, which is why it91裸聊视频檚 so important that Canada continues to defend our interests against these tariffs.91裸聊视频�

The Commerce Department91裸聊视频檚 fourth administrative review of the duties, announced last month, established a combined rate of 7.99 per cent, only slightly less than the 8.59 per cent established after its previous review.

That decision was cheered by U.S. lumber producers, who say the duties keep the playing field level south of the border and allow the domestic forestry and construction industries to thrive.

Such enforcement 91裸聊视频渋s exactly what must happen for enduring expansion of U.S. lumber manufacturing and availability to meet demand to build more American homes,91裸聊视频� said Andrew Miller, chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition.

91裸聊视频淔ailure to fully enforce the trade laws would only undermine long-term confidence in expanding U.S. sawmilling capacity and jobs in the American softwood lumber industry.91裸聊视频�

The U.S. industry 91裸聊视频渞emains open91裸聊视频� to a new agreement on softwood lumber, but Canadian producers have yet to agree on a 91裸聊视频渦nified position91裸聊视频� that would allow the two governments to negotiate one, the coalition says.

READ ALSO: Let91裸聊视频檚 make a deal, Canada urges U.S. amid latest 91裸聊视频榖aseless91裸聊视频� softwood lumber duties