LANGLEY, B.C. — Lumber producers are pleading for red cedar to be granted an exemption from U.S. softwood duties since it doesn’t compete with any U.S. products.

Red cedar producers claim they are caught in the crossfire of the continuing war on Canadian softwood, and some U.S. lumber organizations agree. A coalition of companies from both sides of the border, called Stand Up For Cedar has been formed.

Of the 16 main cedar producers on Canada’s coast, five have already shut down while four others are running curtailed shifts.

Irwin Kullar of City Lumber tells local media that the duty has added between $6,000 and $7,000 to the cost of every truckload of finished cedar leaving his mill.

The coalition has launched a Web site, www.standupforcedar.com to help educate the public about the threat the duties pose to the red cedar industry.