With over 200,000 direct jobs at stake, sector calls on the Government of Canada to bring the same urgency to lumber as it has to steel, aluminum, and energy.
Canada’s forest sector is disappointed that yesterday’s discussions in Washington concluded without relief for 232-affected sectors, including lumber, as the long-standing Softwood Lumber dispute and recently applied tariffs on Canada’s wood manufacturing industry continue to put operations and jobs at risk across the country.
While we recognize that the talks were described as substantive and appreciate that these negotiations are complex, after eight years of escalating duties on softwood lumber, the lack of tangible progress for forest sector workers and communities is deeply concerning. With more than 200,000 direct jobs and hundreds of towns and cities across Canada depending on a vibrant forest sector, lumber and forest products must be treated as a greater priority in Canada–U.S. trade discussions.
Our industry continues to face unjustified duties and tariffs that harm forestry workers here at home and raise costs for American families building and renovating their homes. We urge the Government of Canada to ensure that lumber and forest products are clearly on the agenda as talks continue this week.
“We want to see more progress for our fellow Canadians working in sectors hard hit by U.S. tariffs, but we also want to see more public recognition from our federal government that our sector’s 200,000 employees are also a priority in these talks,” said Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). “Canada and the United States both depend on a healthy, integrated forest sector supply chain — one that supports good jobs here at home and helps build millions of desperately needed affordable housing units across both countries. We simply want to see more urgency, and frankly, we were left wanting more in the post-meeting reports coming out of yesterday’s discussions.”
The forest products sector, through the Canada–Lumber Trade Alliance (CLTA), remains committed to working in partnership with the Government of Canada to ensure that forestry is a priority in ongoing trade discussions with the United States. We will continue to provide data, technical expertise, and practical solutions to help achieve a fair and lasting resolution that supports over 200,000 direct Canadian jobs, enhances cross-border competitiveness, and keeps housing affordable for families on both sides of the border.
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $87.2B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
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