In response, Premier David Eby has denounced the most recent countervailing tariffs set by the United States on all softwood lumber exports from B.C. He dubbed the tariffs as “completely absurd.”… including the U.S. announcement of the increased duties, which suddenly began to impact Canadian lumber much harder than that for comparable product from Russia. Environmentalists were quick to condemn this decision.
Initially, the U.S. government imposed these tariffs under the Trade Expansion Act. This law, which exists outside of trade policy, allows tariffs to be implemented in the name of national security. This backtracking has shocked Canadian officials. They are extremely troubled by this, as lumber we export to Russia currently is exempt from U.S. reciprocal tariffs, and therefore faces no like or kind restriction. To most, this seems counterintuitive, particularly when you learn that today Russia stands as the world’s leading softwood lumber exporter.
Speaking at a press conference in Langford, B.C., Eby said he was fed up. He and Minister of Agriculture and Food Ravi Parmar announced the plans for a new high school during a media event. Eby shone a light on the inequity of U.S. trade policies. He noted that it’s easier and cheaper for Russian lumber to enter the U.S. market than for Canadian producers to do so.
“It is completely absurd that softwood lumber exports from British Columbia face higher duties than the same product from Russia.” – David Eby
Parmar echoed Eby’s sentiments, characterizing the U.S. government’s language as “ludicrous.” He made it clear that the softwood lumber industry is indeed “under direct attack.” That concern deepened when President Donald Trump declared a 10 percent tariff on all imported softwood lumber, set to begin October 14.
The effect of these tariffs is enormous. Export taxes on Canadian softwood lumber entering the United States will now be greater than 45 percent. British Columbia’s provincial government is joining with Ottawa to address some of the industries’ biggest obstacles. Combined, they are injecting $1.2 billion in financial resources to help stabilize Canadian lumber producers during these unprecedented times. This financial assistance was first proposed back in August and is expected to help stabilize the industry through this chaotic time.
Meanwhile, the British Columbia government is advocating for a resolution to the long-standing softwood lumber dispute as part of a more extensive trade agreement with the United States. Parmar is preparing to take part in a trade mission to Japan and South Korea. Through this mission, USDOC seeks to diversify U.S. exporters’ export markets and help expand access to the countries in Asia.
British Columbia Lumber Trade Council has panned the tariffs. They describe them as “misguided and unnecessary,” pointing to the continued strain on trade relations between Canada and the United States.
