The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that major softwood producers with head offices in Canada say they have accounted for more than half of the growth in capacity in the U.S. South over the past decade, highlighting their American investments as the Trump administration investigates lumber imports. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that the Canadian government and several producers from Canada believe that the foray into the U.S. South should be viewed as evidence of them being aligned with the Trump administration's "America First" trade and investment agenda. In the latest round of the long-running softwood trade fight, which dates back to the early 1980s, the Commerce Department began imposing duties in 2017 on shipments of Canadian lumber. However, the U.S. Lumber Coalition is arguing that new tariffs are necessary. The Commerce Department's administrative review into softwood markets in 2023 levied different duties on B.C.-based Canfor and West Fraser Timber. Under the proposed new duty rates, Canfor is scheduled to see its total levies soar to 46.48 per cent, up from the current 16.58 per cent. West Fraser Timber faces paying duties totalling 26.05 per cent, compared with the existing 11.89 per cent.