As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada continue with and enhance its engagement with the Government of the United States concerning the United States’ anti-dumping and countervailing duties that are currently being applied on certain Canadian softwood lumber products. In part, the engagement should focus on efforts to ensure that dispute-settlement processes both at the World Trade Organization and under trade agreements are fair and impartial, and lead to timely decisions.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada continue with and enhance its collaboration with sectors in the United States that support an end to the anti-dumping and countervailing duties that country is applying on certain Canadian softwood lumber products. As part of this collaboration, the Government should discuss options for effectively advocating in the United States, and should support initiatives that would increase these sectors’ ability to participate directly in dispute-settlement processes.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada appoint an official softwood lumber emissary for Canada to engage with United States officials to enhance Canada’s efforts designed to encourage the U.S. administration to negotiate a resolution to the current softwood lumber dispute.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada acknowledge that achieving an agreement with the United States regarding trade in softwood lumber products ultimately will occur only through direct head-of-government negotiation. Efforts to achieve a fair, reasonable and durable resolution of the current softwood lumber dispute should be made a high-level priority in dealings with the U.S. government at the leader-to-leader level.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada establish a strategy for investment in value-added transformations of wood within Canada.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada ensure recognition of the specific characteristics of Quebec's forestry regime, which—since the implementation of the province’s Sustainable Forest Development Act in 2013—has established a market-based system for the pricing of timber and related products from Quebec's public forests, and has resulted in full compliance with North American free trade rules.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada take immediate actions designed to ensure that products from private forests in Canada are not subject to  U.S. anti-dumping or countervailing duties.