Washington — US President Donald Trump intensified a trade dispute with Canada, slapping tariffs of up to 24% on imported softwood lumber in a move that drew swift criticism from the Canadian government, which vowed to sue if needed. Trump announced the new tariff at a White House gathering of conservative journalists, shortly before the US commerce department said it would impose countervailing duties ranging from 3% to 24.1% on Canadian lumber producers, including West Fraser Timber. "We’re going to be putting a 20% tax on softwood lumber coming in — tariff on softwood coming into the US from Canada," Trump said on Monday, according to a tweet by Charlie Spiering, a White House correspondent for Breitbart News. A White House official confirmed the comment. The step escalates an economic battle among neighbouring countries that normally have one of the friendliest international relationships in the world. It follows a fight over a new Canadian milk policy that US producers say viol...
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