The BC Council of Forest Industries Conference kicked off amidst high anxiety over softwood lumber—despite the tone change from the US. Conference highlights include: Chief Terry Teegee set the conference tone; Kurt Niquidet provided an economic outlook; Russ Taylor led on global markets; and others opined on trade and innovation. In related tariff news: China retaliated with 34% tariffs on US imports, sending stock markets down and recession fears up; while US homebuilders celebrate lumber’s exemption (for now), as lumber prices still fell. 

In other news: BC announces new Forestry Support Bureau for jobs; Steelworkers to gather for their national policy conference; Mercer power’s Walmart’s new mass timber campus; lawmakers panned suggestion to kill Oklahoma’s Forestry Service; and timber organizations seek revamp of Northwest Forest Plan.

Finally, the Global Buyers Mission 2025 date is set; and sadly—BC coast logging legend Mark Ponting dies at 66.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor