
Canada’s forestry sector faces uncertainty with 25 per cent U.S. tariffs
VICTORIA — A wide shadow of uncertainty has been cast over Canada’s forestry sector by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on its lumber products.
Several industry groups have released statements criticizing the tariff as unnecessary and harmful for both sides, a sentiment echoed by British Columbia Premier David Eby who vows full support for the provincial sector.
Eby says the sector is already paying softwood lumber duties of 14.4 per cent when it ships to the United States, not to mention other challenges such as the pine beetle outbreak that wiped swaths of forests.
He says the additional tariff will also bring pain for U.S. consumers, since demand for homebuilding will be on the rise to replace thousands of buildings lost in the Southern California wildfires.