Premier of British Columbia to Hold Meeting with Mark Carney Regarding Steep Lumber Tariffs Set by United States

British Columbia Premier David Eby announces a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday to discuss implementing a Team Canada strategy to help workers in the forestry sector deal with the recent U.S. decision on softwood lumber duties.

The U.S. Department of Commerce revealed on Friday a preliminary anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 34.45 percent for Canadian lumber after a review—more than double the current 14.54 percent duty.

Eby condemns the decision as an assault on forest workers and all residents of B.C., predicting it will also impact Americans by increasing housing costs.

He plans to discuss the issue directly with Carney on Monday, emphasizing the importance of these jobs to forestry workers and their livelihoods now under threat from U.S. tariffs.

Ontario’s associate minister of forestry, Kevin Holland, and Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli blame the U.S. for intending to significantly raise duty rates on softwood lumber, warning that this could strain housing affordability for Americans.

They express deep disappointment over the U.S.’s decision and assert that these punitive measures will lead to higher construction costs.

Holland and Fedeli highlight that Ontario’s forestry sector generated revenue close to $37 billion in 2022 and supported over 137,000 jobs, advocating for a complete removal of these duties.

Eby hopes for a coordinated Team Canada effort to protect forestry workers, similar to the support provided to the automotive and steel industries in Ontario and Quebec.

Additionally, Ottawa imposed a 25 percent tariff on non-compliant U.S. vehicle imports in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs to uphold the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.