Late last week, United States President Donald Trump slapped Canada with the latest tariff hike which will detrimentally impact BC’s softwood lumber industry.
The new tariff is an increase of 20.56%, and will specifically affect ‘anti-dumping duties’ on Canadian softwood lumber.
Anti-dumping duties refer to tariffs or taxes imposed when they are deemed to be dumped into the market at unfairly low prices.
“Dumping” in this context is when a country exports a product at a price lower than its normal value. In this case, the US government and US builders are saying that Canadian lumber is cheaper than American lumber in the United States because of subsidization.
With these latest tariffs being imposed on the Canadian lumber industry, BC’s lumber will be more expensive to American builders, making it less desirable and costing the economy gravely.
“US President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada’s economy, and the forestry sector is feeling the full weight of this,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests
“It is no secret, the sector—one that employs tens of thousands of workers in our province—has faced years of uncertainty, driven by ongoing trade disputes, global market pressures, and the compounding effects of climate change. Now, we face further challenges, with rising unfair and unjust duties imposed by the United States.”
Parmer added that the BC government’s view is that these tariffs are a tax on the middle-class in the United States who are trying to build a home affordably.
Additionally, he says that the duties will also impact those working in the BC forestry industry.
“Let me be clear: we will not stand by while Donald Trump tries to rip paycheques out of the hands of hard-working people in BC,” said Parmar.
“We’re going to fight for our workers, our communities and the future of this sector. Not just to protect jobs, but to build a future where forestry workers and their families thrive for generations to come.”
Parmar says that Premier David Eby is working with Canada’s other premiers and the Prime Minister on how Canada will respond to these tariffs.
Additionally, Parmar is heading up a Softwood Lumber Advisory Council to advise and support the government’s response and strategy.
“We will continue to take action to address the challenges the forestry sector is facing because this is about more than lumber; it’s about people and place,” said Parmar.
“By working together with industry, First Nations and communities, we can build a resilient and sustainable forest economy that works for people, protects our resources, and ensures long-term prosperity for everyone in BC.”
In 2024, BC wood products were the most lucrative export to the United States, with around $5.68 billion exported.
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