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By Caden Fanshaw

LUMBER

Frustrations continue as U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber remain with final ruling

Aug 4, 2022 | 5:58 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are plenty of moving pieces facing BC’s forest sector and on Thursday another curveball was tossed into the mix.

American lawmakers came down on a key final rate of 8.59% as a tariff on Canadian lumber, lower than the current rate of just over 17% although still unacceptable according to the Federal government.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng is calling the latest duties “baseless,” “unwarranted” and “unfair,” adding Ottawa would challenge the ruling under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s dispute resolution system.

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Katrine Conroy, BC Minister of Forests said the decision is ridiculous, adding this dispute should not exist in this day and age.

John Rustad, BC Forest Critic said he blames the provincial government for making the situation worse, adding they have done nothing to try and actually improve the sector for BC companies.

Others were also quick to weigh in on the decision Thursday, many calling it unacceptable and demanding action from the government.

Taylor Bachrach, MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley said he is committed to action from the Feds to make progress on the longstanding softwood disagreement.

Former BC Council of Forest Industries President, now President of the BC Lumber Council Susan Yurkovich said the blame needs to be pointed south of the border to Americans artificially inflating the price of lumber while not having enough to meet consumer needs in their own country.

Yurkovich said the problem only gets more frustrating as time goes on.

There is no date set on when a dispute could be heard from Ottawa.