Politicians from British Columbia and Ottawa will meet today in Vancouver for a forestry summit to discuss how to support the industry in the face of US tariffs and taxes. tariffs exceeds 50 percent.
Federal politicians including Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, are meeting with British Columbia Premier David Eby and his forests and employment ministers to discuss ways to support workers and businesses hit by the tariff hikes.
In September, the Americans imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian companies ranging from 26 percent to more than 47 percent, then added another 10 percent last month, saying Canadian industries posed a threat to U.S. national security.
British Columbia's goal at the summit is to push for more federal aid for an industry that employs tens of thousands of workers in the province.
The softwood lumber dispute has been a point of friction for decades, with the United States imposing tariffs claiming Canada is subsidizing its industry.
The Forestry Council of British Columbia last month issued a statement on behalf of business, unions and other industry groups saying the government must give the same urgency to the timber issue as it does to disputes with the U.S. over steel, aluminum and energy.
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