Softwood duties going to U.S. charities, Habitat for Humanity

The U.S. government said Friday it will distribute $450 million US to three charitable organizations as part of the deal worked out to end the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber trade fight.

The money comes from duties collected on Canadian softwood brought into the U.S.

Under the deal, two endowments will be created— $200 million US for the United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities Inc., and $150 million US for the American Forest Foundation.

Habitat for Humanities International will also get a $100-million US revolving loan fund to buy softwood lumber for homes for low-income families, especially those in timber-reliant communities and for families recovering from disasters.

"I am pleased that, in consultation with the Canadian government, we were able to fund worthy causes that will meet fundamental needs in the forestry sector to the benefit of both countries," U.S. trade representative Susan Schwab said Friday in a release.

The U.S. government collected about $5.3 billion US in duties on Canadian softwood brought into the country.

About $4.3 billion US is being returned to the importers, while $500 million US is going to the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, a U.S. lobby group that launched the anti-dumping case. Another $50 million US will go to a Canada-U.S. forest industry council. The remainder is going to the charities.