Monday October 27, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 3:23 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC forestry sector is getting a leg to stand on as to trade diversification in locations other than the United States.
Today the Ministry of Forests announced that efforts are underway to diversify and strengthen British Columbia’s forestry sector with a new office in London, England.
The office will be a hub for B.C.’s forestry sector to expand its market share across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Canada and the U.K. in December 2020 signed the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (last update July 2025), following the U.K.’s departure from the European Union.
As of January 1, 2024, 99% of tariffs between Canada and the U.K. have been eliminated, including no tariffs on softwood lumber and forest products from Canada.
Export of softwood lumber and other goods will of course need to consider the cost of transportation including cross-Atlantic shipping.
Building new homes:
Similar to Canada and B.C., the U.K. government has made commitments to building new homes.
The U.K. government has set the target of 1.5 million new housing starts over five years, which would be a more than 50% increase in construction over this period. The U.K. government is also committed to retrofitting its aging housing stock and has made commitments to building more social housing.
The Province has taken action to support the expansion of forestry markets domestically and internationally.
The expansion into the U.K. and Europe is part of a strategy to expand B.C.’s market footprint in established and emerging wood markets around the world. Market diversification helps the sector be more resilient to global market swings or market instability caused by U.S. trade actions on softwood lumber and other wood products.
The U.K has banned the import of Russian wood products, which previously averaged around 5% of its foreign lumber imports.
BC is the second largest exporter:
“British Columbia is the second largest exporter of softwood lumber in the world, and with U.S. President Donald Trump’s continued attacks on our forestry workers and economy, we are not sitting idly by,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
“We are making it easier for our friends across the pond to buy our world-class lumber, and we are supporting our forestry sector to get boots on the ground in more growing wood markets around the world.”
Forestry Innovation Investment expansion:
B.C.’s Crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), will be expanding its presence to the U.K. to work with the forestry industry there, around Europe, and eventually, select markets in the Middle East and northern Africa, to grow B.C.’s forestry sector footprint internationally. This new office will give B.C.’s forestry sector a representative to help expand growing wood markets in the U.K. and Europe.
“Expanding into the U.K. reflects FII’s commitment to building resilient, diversified markets for B.C. forest products,” said Rick Doman, board chair, FII. “The current trade-impeding U.S. duties and tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber underscore the importance of reducing reliance on any single market. Together with industry, we’re determined to re-establish B.C.’s foothold in the U.K. and drive growth across Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region.”
Other BC Forestry offices:
This is the newest FII office, joining offices in China, India and Vietnam, and industry-led offices in Japan and South Korea.
This international network of offices advances the use of wood as a building material around the world and positions British Columbia as a preferred supplier.
Expanding wood markets:
Through export development programs and trade missions, FII expands wood markets, while showcasing B.C.’s high-quality wood products and attracting global investment back to B.C.
FII leads research on advancements in wood technology, working with international governments and policymakers on policies and regulations to encourage wood use in new and existing markets.
Political influence:
It’s quickly likely that Primer Minister Mark Carney’s economic connections in England — and having lived there for many years — has been helpful in getting this new BC forestry trade office open. It’s an opportune time to get this setup done, due the trade war that the United States has imposed on Canada and other countries in terms of requiring tariffs.
===== RELATED:
- BC may launch Canada-Russia-US forestry tariffs social media campaign (October 26, 2025)
- BC opens forestry trade office in Vietnam (April 20, 2022)
- NEWS SECTIONS: TARIFFS & TRADE | USA-CANADA | CANADA-NATIONAL | FORESTRY