The United States recently announced they would be increasing duties on softwood lumber to 34.45%—more than double what it was.
This announcement from the US Department of Commerce comes just days after President Donald Trump said there would be no additional duties or tariffs on Canadian products, with the exception of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles from all countries.
Premier David Eby says the move to more than double duties on Canadian softwood lumber—much of which comes from BC—will do nothing but drive up housing costs for Americans.
“This is an attack on forest workers and British Columbians,” said Premier Eby.
“I know that during hard times it is often the workers who pay the price. To every forestry worker in British Columbia hearing the news of this impending increase to softwood lumber duties, know this: We have got your back and your government will fight for you.”
Eby met with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday, April 7th, while Carney made various Vancouver Island campaign stops to speak about the matter.
In a statement, he said the meeting was a productive one in which the two leaders spoke about BC’s priorities amid the United States’ onslaught of tariffs.
Eby says those priorities included President Trump’s attacks on BC industries such as softwood lumber, a national transportation corridor for goods and services as well as expediting major projects and housing initiatives.
“The American president’s renewed assault on our forestry sector needs the same Team Canada response as the manufacturing and auto industry jobs in Ontario and Quebec,” said Eby.
“The prime minister confirmed his understanding of the seriousness of the softwood issue and his commitment to work with us to address it proactively. The Team Canada approach is one BC supports, and it is our expectation other provinces will support us, too.”
Eby added that no matter the outcome of the upcoming federal election, BC needs a government that is ready to address its problems and the problems within Canada as a whole.
BC Lumber Trade Council’s response
In addition to Premier Eby quickly jumping on the duties levied against BC softwood lumber, the BC Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) has also responded to the issue.
“The BCLTC is deeply disappointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s preliminary decision to more than double countervailing duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber from 6.74% to 14.38%,” wrote the BCLTC in a media release.
“Combined with Commerce’s preliminary decision earlier this year to increase anti-dumping duties to 20.07%, this could bring the total combined duty rate to 34.45% this fall if Commerce maintains these rates in its final results.”
The US Department of Commerce has made claims that BC’s system provides unfair advantages, but the BCLTC says these claims are not based in facts and will have a detrimental impact on the lumber industry.
“These duties are unjustified and harmful,” said Kurt Niquidet, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council.
“Our stumpage system is grounded in market principles, with timber sold through open, competitive auctions.”
The BCLTC is now urging the US Department of Commerce to reverse this decision on softwood duties.
Federal political parties’ responses
The NDP were quick to address the matter of these softwood lumber duties once announced, and say they have a plan they would implement to support the forestry industry.
“People have a hard time as is; we can’t take any more pressure,” said Gord Johns, NDP candidate for Courtenay–Alberni.
“The forest industry is taking a hit. The current softwood lumber tariffs are already devastating – this will be crippling.”
They propose to use Canadian softwood lumber—and Canadian steel, which is also being impacted by US tariffs—in order to build hospitals, bridges and houses.
BC exports about 74.8 per cent of its softwood lumber to the United States.
“We’re already seeing big businesses, bankers and billionaires use Trump’s tariffs as an excuse to jack up prices and push an agenda of tax breaks for the rich,” said Alistair MacGregor, NDP candidate for Cowichan–Malahat–Langford.
“And it’s working. Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have announced a chest full of support for their billionaire donors. Mark Carney, on the other hand, has spent his life making the rich even richer—and he’s done that while laying people off and hurting normal middle-class families.”
The NDP’s plan to protect softwood lumber and BC workers includes safeguarding jobs through strategic investments such as building and expanding infrastructure projects using Canadian materials.
Additionally, the NDP have said they would ensure families and forestry workers don’t bear the cost of tariffs by using money from retaliatory tariffs to directly support workers, removing GST from essential services and capping grocery prices on essential items.
As of this publication, the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberal Party of Canada have not released a specific plan on what they would do to protect the softwood lumber industry.
