They were fantastically effective against Canada when the US lumber lobby illegally attacked Canadian processed lumber.
The proceeds of the tariffs were funnelled back into the US companies that paid the import tariff, so the US did not suffer from the massive illegal tariffs applied, and the tariffs were not applied against the raw logs that they did want from Canada.
Illegal as determined by all but one international trade tribunal, because it was claimed to be dumping, but the US had no proof, and Canada had proof to the contrary.
There is one caveat to the tariffs not working.
They were fantastically effective against Canada when the US lumber lobby illegally attacked Canadian processed lumber.
The proceeds of the tariffs were funnelled back into the US companies that paid the import tariff, so the US did not suffer from the massive illegal tariffs applied, and the tariffs were not applied against the raw logs that they did want from Canada.
No matter how you got your lumber, the US companies still won.
And Stephen Harper/Pierre Poilievre won. They capitulated to the US and their base never called them on it.
What was the illegal part?
Illegal as determined by all but one international trade tribunal, because it was claimed to be dumping, but the US had no proof, and Canada had proof to the contrary.
Also it was flagrantly against NAFTA.