The federal government is launching litigation via the World Trade Organization over anti-dumping and countervailing duties the U.S. Department of Commerce has set on softwood lumber imports from Canada.

"The U.S. Department of Commerce's decision to impose punitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber producers is unfair, unwarranted and deeply troubling," according to a statement issued Tuesday by Global Affairs Canada.

The Canadian government said it has requested consultations with the U.S. under the WTO.

"We will forcefully defend Canada's softwood lumber industry," the government said in its statement.

Canada has already challenged the countervailing duties under Chapter 19 of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

This was excerpted from the 28 November 2017 edition of CBC News.