Friday February 14, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar addressed media from Sacramento, California where he has been attending meetings with forestry and wildfire leaders and representatives in that US state.
“B.C. and California have a strong relationship and a history of co-operation that has benefited so many people up and down the coast,” said Parmar, while emphasizing several times in his 30-minute media session that there are strong ties between the two jurisdictions.
Parmar met with representatives of California Wildfire and the California Chamber of Commerce during his visit to the US this week. Some areas where BC can learn from this visit include the handling of biomass and interface wildfires. He is looking forward to meeting with a California state senator later today.
As to California purchasing softwood lumber from BC suppliers, California will be undertaking “a major rebuild” after having experienced major urban interface wildfires last month, and looking to construct infrastructure for the 2026 FIFA games and the 2028 Olympics.
California is the largest US state in terms of population and commerce. He says it’s important to meet with government staffers to get their “advice and guidance on how we move forward”.
Last year Canada provided four billion board feet of softwood lumber to the entire United States, says Pamar.
BC Forests Minister says he is looking forward to forestry governance counterparts in North Carolina and Florida. Those are “Republican-held states that are facing very similar challenges,” said Parmar today.
Not a new issue:
BC continues to face a softwood lumber dispute with the United States, something which has continued for decades.
“British Columbia and the forest industry have been engaged for decades with the United States in ongoing Softwood Lumber trade litigation. The 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement provided stability and predictability until its expiry on October 12, 2015, triggering the latest round in the lumber dispute,” as stated on the Forestry ministry website.
Impact of tariffs:
Tariffs on softwood lumber have always been imposed by the US, despite how many American households, businesses and cities rely on BC lumber supplies for construction and renovation projects.
Currently the softwood lumber duty tax (aka tariff) is 14%. With an additional 25% tariff — as currently earmarked by US President Donald Trump for all Canadian imports to the US starting March 4 — that could bring the tariff to “50% to 55%” said Parmar today.
As to the politics of the 25% tariff threat that is, Parmar says to Californians impacted by the recent Los Angeles area wildfires that it is “an opportunity to speak directly with your president… to say how tariffs will “make you pay more to rebuild your home”.
The president’s push:
US President Trump keeps pushing and needling Canada and its leaders with taunts about Canada becoming “the 51st state”. This has rankled most Canadians but now also has some US commercial sectors worried.
“Americans that I’ve talked to think the President’s comments are silly, they’re embarrassed by them, and want to ensure that we have a strong working relationship well into the future,” said Parmar today.
Joint Statement on softwood duties and tariffs:
BC Forest Minister & California Building Industry Association’s statement (Feb 14, 2025)
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, and Dan Dunmoyer, CEO, California Building Industry Association, have released the following statement on B.C. lumber and softwood duties:
“B.C. and California have a strong relationship and a history of co-operation that has benefited so many people up and down the coast.
“Together, we are working to make sure that our desire for fair, mutually beneficial trade policies is fully understood by U.S. industry leaders and policymakers, and to show that unjustified tariffs on Canadian imports on top of the already challenging softwood issue will only hurt people on both sides of the border.
“There’s no doubt that our American partners need B.C.’s quality softwood products, and any tariff will simply increase the costs to build much-needed housing. This is particularly true following the recent fires in Los Angeles. More than 16,000 homes and buildings were lost, an almost unimaginable tragedy. There are now predictions that housing and rental units will now become even more unaffordable.
“B.C. can play a positive role in helping California rebuild after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Rebuilding is only possible using B.C. wood, and unjustified tariffs and duties will only make recovery more expensive and take longer. B.C. can help in this housing crisis and we have a role in shaping the future of trade between our two countries.
“The message we are bringing to Californians is this: B.C. is here to help. Our relationship creates reliable jobs and predictable, stable markets at a time when they can be hard to find. The best way forward is together.”
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NEWS SECTIONS: FORESTRY | CANADA-USA | TARIFFS & TRADE | BUSINESS & ECONOMY
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