The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Feb. 2, edition that the U.S. Department of Commerce plans to raise tariffs levied against Canadian softwood lumber producers, marking the latest salvo in the long-running trade dispute. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that based on the Commerce Department's preliminary assessment, the combined countervailing and anti-dumping duty rates will be 13.86 per cent for most Canadian producers, compared with 8.05 per cent currently. International Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement on Thursday, "Canada is extremely disappointed that the U.S. Department of Commerce has signalled its intention to significantly increase its duties on softwood lumber from Canada." The U.S. duties will differ for four of the lumber producers based in Canada. Under the preliminary tariff schedule to take effect by this autumn, duties for Canfor would rise to 15.79 per cent from the current 6.61 per cent. West Fraser Timber's duty rate is slated to climb to 12.07 per cent from 9.25 per cent. J.D. Irving's duty rate would increase to 11.03 per cent from the recent 7.98 per cent, while Tolko Industries' tariff is set to rise to 16.76 per cent from 8.05 per cent.