The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Friday, Aug. 8 that, as part of its sixth administrative review of the countervailing duty order on softwood lumber from Canada, it will raise its countervailing duties from 6.74 per cent to 14.63 per cent for non-selected companies — an increase aligned with a previous administrative review. …The Department of Commerce is reportedly unhappy with the current subsidies, with rates ranging from 12.12 per cent to 16.82 per cent. …However, both the BC Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) and the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) are condemning the increases. …The BCLTC emphasized that the increases will only serve to economically harm both countries. …COFI stated in a press release that it is calling on the provincial government to immediately improve the business environment for forestry in BC, as the industry faces issues including rising costs, declining harvest levels, regulatory delays, and policy uncertainty.