text: The Canadian government is not noted for proactive management on the lumber file. When the Americans cannot build homes because there is no lumber, political hell is in store for Washington. If the U.S. decides to add a 20% levy on Canadian lumber, then the short term solution is for the Canadian government to intervene by creating a serious shortage,one way or another, so that the political pain would be a serious detriment to the 20% levy on Canadian-sourced lumber. One way to do this would be to put an equivalent levy on the exports, so the cost of building would shoot up. Fast. Also why should the Yanks get all the money? The levy could be used to compensate displaced workers, compensate the industry, stockpile lumber, etc. But by putting up the cost of construction in the U.S. their housing industry would suffer dramatically, and job losses would be on the table. Oh dear!