Tuesday October 14, 2025 | BURNABY, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today’s increase in US duties on softwood lumber and forestry products sold from Canadian suppliers to buyers in the United States brought Premier David Eby forward with more comments about economic pressures imposed by the US.
The total of duties and tariffs on softwood lumber now amounts to 45% (previous duties of 35% and today a 10% tariff). On forestry value-added products like kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture there is now a tariff of 25% as of 12:01 am ET October 14. These increases were announced last month by the United States administration.
Trump signed a presidential proclamation on September 29 laying out his argument that timber, lumber and furniture imports are eroding U.S. national security to justify the new duties under Section 232 of the Trade Act of 1974. Of course, BC disputes that there is any national security threat by selling softwood lumber and related products to the US.
Wide impact:
Eby pointed out that businesses, households and sometimes entire communities are directly impacted when softwood lumber and forestry product sales are levied such a high tax (set of duties and tariffs).
“It’s an existential threat that the sector is facing because of an attack by the president of the United States. It’s going to drive up costs for Americans and make life more challenging for them as well,” said Eby today.
High profile:
Holding this press conference today helps the national media keep the economy’s foundational forestry sector in front of federal government eyes as negotiations with the United States continue
“We are calling on Ottawa to stand with us, all governments together, to ensure that they’re deploying the more than $1 million they’ve committed to the forest sector, with urgency. There is no time to wait,” the BC Premier said.
What’s at stake:
“Jobs and mills are on the line. And we are committed to continue to work with the sector to support workers who are facing curtailment- their jobs aren’t there, they’re being put on hold, to support mills to avoid closure, to protect communities. And we’ll do that in partnership with the federal government that treats this crisis that we’re facing as the emergency to the national economy that it truly is,” said Eby today.
“I want to reassure everybody out there whose family and communities depend on these forest jobs — we will stand with you in Ottawa, in Washington, and right here at home in British Columbia. We’ll make sure that we’re doing everything we can to fight back against this unfair tax by the president of the United States. “And to ensure that you, your family and your communities are supported,” he stated.
Diversification is key:
And as for the strategy to diversify: “We’ve got to move our products to markets other than the United States. We’ve got to diversify and ensure that our forest sector remains strong for years and generations to come.”
“A sustainable forest economy, driving prosperity in every corner of British Columbia and every corner of Canada is an achievable goal for all of us,” said Eby.
Forestry minister and supporters:
“We’re gathering here with labour, with workers, with the companies, with Indigenous leadership and our goal is for the federal government to respond to this as quickly as possible,” said BC’s Premier.
Also addressing media today were Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar; Scott Lunny, director of District 3, United Steel Workers; and Gavin McGarrigle, Western regional director, Unifor.
COFI representatives also attended as well as industry partners, contractors, the Interior logging association, the First Nations Forestry Council, and the value-added sector.
Parmar said the 45% softwood lumber duties and tariffs that are impacting “our ability to provide world class wood products to the United States to build the homes that middle class Americans are desperately needing”.
“These duties, these tariffs, are nothing more than a tax on middle class Americans,” said Parmar. But in fact, if Americans choose to purchase lumber products from source other than BC businesses, then the impact is very real here in British Columbia for forestry sector workers. That’s part of Trump’s strategy to ‘break us’ as Prime Minister Mark Carney said during the spring 2025 federal election campaign.
Joint statement from the forestry sector:
Today the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) issued a joint statement, with gratitude for provincial government support for the sector but also calling for competitiveness, innovation and a strengthened supply chain.
“The BC forest sector calls on the Government of Canada to bring the same urgency to the lumber file as it has to steel, aluminum, and energy,” said COFI in a news release.
“Our industry is facing an unprecedented period of challenge. On top of the existing 35% softwood lumber duties, the United States has now imposed an additional 10% tariff—wrongly claiming that Canadian lumber and forest products represent a national security threat. These unwarranted and unjustified trade actions are having devastating impacts and the lack of tangible progress for forest sector workers and communities is deeply concerning.”
“We cannot continue to manage the decline of this foundational industry. We must focus on rebuilding competitiveness, driving innovation, and strengthening the entire value chain. Forestry remains a cornerstone of the provincial and national economy—a major project that can deliver tangible results now, if given the necessary attention and support,” stated COFI.
The full COFI statement was signed by:
- Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, BC Council of Forest Industries
- Lennard Joe, President, BC First Nations Forestry Council
- Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director, BC Community Forest Association
- Kurt Niquidet, President, BC Lumber Trade Council
- Brian Hawrysh, CEO, BC Wood
- Ted Dergousoff, President, Independent Lumber Manufacturers Association
- Brian Menzies, Executive Director, Independent Wood Processors Association
- Todd Chamberlain, General Manager, Interior Logging Association
- John Nester, Manager, North West Loggers Association
- Geoff Dawe, National President, Public and Private Workers of Canada
- Joe Nemeth, General Manager, BC Pulp & Paper Coalition
- Megan Hanacek, CEO, Private Forest Landowners Association
- Peter Lister, Executive Director, Truck Loggers Association
- Scott Lunny, Director and Jeff Bromley, Wood Council Chair, United Steelworkers
- Gavin McGarrigle, Western Regional Director, Unifor
- Gord Chipman, Executive Director, Woodlots BC
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