The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that faced with continuing investigations by the U.S. International Trade Commission and a protectionist president, Canada's softwood lumber sector faces a cloudy future that looks a lot like the past. The Globe's Josh O'Kane writes that Donald Trump has long shown interest in renegotiating the North American free-trade agreement upon taking office, leaving trade partners in limbo. The recent expiration of the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement is already a sore point with the U.S. Last week, the USITC announced it had found "reasonable indication" that Canadian softwood lumber product imports has "materially injured" U.S. industry. The events leave a lot hanging in the balance for the softwood sector in 2017. Some see a year ahead with a familiar, and potentially costly, step backward. Others see a chance to, in a roundabout way, stake a Canadian claim in Mr. Trump's economic vision. "I don't want to project a number in what a duty might be, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were slapped with a penalty that could have a significant impact on export volumes to the U.S.," says Alberta Forest Products Association head Paul Whittaker.