Province forms council to address U.S. tariffs on B.C. lumber

The province has formed a new council designed to protect B.C.’s interests in the softwood lumber sector.

Provincial Forest Minister Ravi Parmar says protecting the industry goes beyond the current trade dispute between Canada and the U.S.

The 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump would serve to worsen an already difficult situation, says Parmar.

He says he first part of the problem is that B.C.’s softwood lumber exports are already dragged down by punitive fourteen per cent tariffs — and that’s scheduled to increase this summer.

“We expect those to go up by double digits. We’ll know later this month the exact percentage point, but we expect them to go up double double digits,” Parmar explained.

“That, in itself, is devastating to the sector. The ‘Trump Tariff’ as an additive — which makes absolutely no sense to me — makes it even worse. And so I want people in those communities and forest-dependent communities all across the province to know that I’ve got their back. This council has got their back.”

Last year, CanFor announced it would be winding down two mills in Vanderhoof and Fort St. James in the face of punitive American duties — long before Trump made his tariff threat.

Parmar says he’s struck the council in order to stand up for B.C.’s interests and combat misinformation. He says the U.S. lumber industry claims Canada is undercutting them on cost and being subsidized — but he says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The new council, Parmar says, will bring industry professionals and community stakeholders together to help him get the industry back on its feet.

“In my eyes, the best solution is a long term deal. I understand, the president likes to make deals. Well, let’s make a deal. He needs our trees. We want to sell our lumber to to the United States. That’s a way to be able to address this.”