American lumber producers aren’t impressed with BC’s response to the threat of increased softwood lumber tariffs.
Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar last month created the B.C. Softwood Lumber Advisory Council, made up of union, industry, and political representatives. It will recommend steps the province can take to reduce duties and deal with potential increases in tariffs on BC softwood.
However, Andrew Miller, speaking for the US Lumber Coalition, says it’s the wrong approach.
“This is not a complicated issue,” he said in a press release. “Canada must stop dumping its excess lumber production into the U.S. market and should stop subsidizing its industry instead of convening an ‘Advisory Council’ in British Columbia to study ways of getting around U.S. trade laws.”
Currently BC softwood exports are under a 14.4 percent tariff, that could rise even higher later this year.
