Northern softwood update, 23 October 2026: trade barriers, not demand, are shaping where spruce, pine and SPF flow this autumn.

The key news: the US has cut anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood to 24.75% from 35.16%, but a separate 10% tariff keeps the total at 34.75%. At the same time, CME lumber futures sit near $521 per thousand board feet, close to a two-year low, as US housing slows.

What it means for Taiga-Forest-Wood.com customers: with heavy duties on one major trade lane, northern softwood keeps looking for other markets. A supplier with neutral origin and flexible routing can offer buyers more choice on species, grade and port of loading.

Example (illustrative): on a $13,040 load of SPF (about 25 thousand board feet at today’s futures price), a 34.75% duty would add about $4,530 if it applied. Buyers outside that lane do not pay it, which is why routing matters.

Advice for partners: specify species and grade clearly (for example spruce-pine-fir, kiln-dried, stress-graded), ask for two routing options with transit times, and match load size to your storage.

The honest caution: duty rules can change after reviews or court rulings, and freight in the Gulf is currently volatile. Treat any price as valid only for the quote period.

Taiga-Forest-Wood.com — northern softwood, flexible by design.