The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that the U.S. International Trade Commission says it has found there was a reasonable indication that softwood-lumber products from Canada materially injured American producers, setting the stage for the imposition of preliminary duties. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says that the trade commission announced Friday that it made an initial determination of harm from Canadian lumber that is "allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value." It said the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations launched Dec. 16 into the imported products. The final phase is a much longer and much more in-depth investigation where the commission will determine whether the U.S. industry is injured by reason of the imports. The preliminary finding could force U.S. importers of Canadian lumber to pay cash deposits to cover preliminary countervailing duties in early March, followed in mid-May with deposits for any anti-dumping duties, unless the deadlines are extended. The decision to investigate is in response to petitions filed in November from the U.S. Lumber Coalition.