Effective August 19th, the United States will apply new US tariffs of 50% on a range of BC forest products exports to the US. …While initial news coverage tended to make light of the trade action likely because of the likely symbolic inclusion of hockey sticks, the implications for BC’s already beleaguered forest products sector are serious. …I estimate that BC exported up to approximately $991 million of forest products potentially subject to Section 338 tariffs to the US in 2025. …The impacts of these new tariffs extend well beyond hockey sticks and are likely to be felt across a broad range of forest manufacturing segments. Major producers of veneer, LVL, plywood, MDF, paper products and furniture could be affected directly. However, the impacts may be felt further down the value chain.
Determining which US duties and tariffs applied to Canadian forest products has become increasingly complex. One major difference from previous tariff threats is that the new Section 338 tariffs apply to CUSMA-compliant products, that would otherwise qualify for tariff-free access to the US market. Products already covered by Section 232 are exempt from the new Section 338 measures. This includes Canadian logs and softwood lumber, which are currently subject to a 10% Section 232 tariff as well as upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets and vanities, which currently face a 25% tariff that is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027. There are also products that are not covered by Section 232 tariffs but are subject to softwood lumber antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duties, and which may also be captured by Section 338 tariffs, resulting in a potentially devastating cumulative burden.
For all manufacturer of the products listed, it’s the indirect exposures and the potential impact on downstream supply chains that is hard to assess. …Section 338 tariffs are yet another critical blow that could lead to lower harvesting, reduced manufacturing, and potentially additional curtailments or mill closures for small and large businesses.
As the clock ticks toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline, Canada and the U.S. aren’t at a point where a tariff deal can be reached — and Canadian officials are not satisfied with the latest U.S. offer, according to two sources with knowledge of the trade talks. According to sources on both sides of the border, the Americans offered a new proposal on Tuesday which would lower some of the sectoral tariffs but not to the degree that the Canadian side would like to see. CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Negotiators have been going back and forth in recent weeks in an effort to reach some sort of deal before Aug. 19, which is when Trump has promised a 50 per cent levy on hundreds of Canadian goods in addition to the sectoral tariffs already in place.
Canada’s top trade negotiator has warned her American counterparts that if the White House imposes new tariffs on Aug. 19, the move would represent a “cliff” that risks halting negotiations with the U.S. According to five sources briefed on the discussions, Janice Charette delivered the message in a meeting last week with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Four of the sources said Ms. Charette cautioned the Americans on the public mood in Canada should President Donald Trump make good on his threat to impose the new tariffs. The sources said she warned the officials that Ottawa would not be able to rein in or control the public or premiers’ reactions and the federal government will have lost the room to negotiate with the Americans. The Globe and Mail is not identifying the sources, who were not authorized to disclose details of their private briefings on the sensitive trade talks. [A Globe and Mail subscription is required for full access]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Many Canadian exporters are facing the threat of 50% duties on their goods under Section 338 tariffs. …These firms may also need to increase their customs-bond coverage, which guarantees payment of duties and fees if an importer defaults, as higher tariffs increase the US government’s exposure. But trade lawyers and customs professionals say another change could affect far more Canadian exporters… an executive order that seeks to tighten US customs enforcement to crack down on trade fraud and shell importers that evade duties. “They’re going to a stricter importer regime … directing US authorities to strengthen the importer registration, bonding, disclosure, vetting, and enforcement,” said Martha Goncalves, at PwC Canada. …“The US trying to change the global trading system, and this is just part of their playbook,” she said. “Unfortunately, we get hit hardest because we have such a big footprint of Canadian exports going to the US”
Canadian lumber company Interfor Corp. confirmed plans Friday to move corporate support functions to the United States from its Burnaby, BC headquarters. “We recently announced the transition of certain corporate support roles to our Peachtree City office in Georgia, where the majority of our operations are located within the Central, Eastern and Atlantic time zones,” Ian Fillinger, the company’s CEO, said on a conference call with analysts. “This change is intended to better align our support functions with the needs of our business while maintaining a strong corporate presence in both Canada and the United States.” …“This is not a redomiciling of the company, nor does it alter our longstanding commitment within our Canadian operations, mills, employees, or communities,” Fillinger said. “Our leadership team remains in place, and Burnaby will continue to play an important role as our corporate headquarters.” [A subscription to the National Post is required for full access]
The City of Prince George is working with several other organizations to support workers and minimize the economic impact of the imminent closure of Northwood Pulp Mill, the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs heard Monday. Deklan Corstanje, the city’s manager of economic development, said the city participated in a meeting of a community transition team made up of representatives from Canfor, several branches of the provincial government, Northern Health, Northern Development Initiative Trust, PacifiCAN, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Tano T’enneh Enterprises and more. Those participants have been split into two separate working committees with the city sitting in on both. …The first group is focusing on worker supports and programs offered by the provincial and federal governments. …The other committee, Corstanje said, is working with Canfor to examine the impact of the mill’s closure and mitigate negative effects on both workers and economic development.
Premier David Eby’s statement after speaking in Penticton with evacuees, local leaders and emergency personnel responding to wildfires: Today, I met with people whose lives have been turned upside down by these wildfires. I listened to families forced to leave their homes with little warning. I heard from people waiting anxiously for news about whether they have anything left to return to. And I spoke with business owners worried about their employees and their future. I also met with local mayors, First Nations leadership, firefighters, emergency personnel and community organizations helping people through an incredibly difficult time. The message I heard was clear: These have been devastating days, but people are facing them with strength, determination and a deep commitment to supporting their neighbours. To everyone who has been evacuated, who is under alert, who has lost property or who is living with uncertainty right now: know that you are not facing this alone. 
The U.S. Lumber Coalition repeatedly accuses Canada of subsidizing softwood-lumber production, preserving excess capacity and distorting trade. That argument deserves scrutiny — but it must be applied consistently. The U.S. is hardly subsidy-free. Federal and state governments support forestry and wood manufacturing through grants, tax provisions and public programs. U.S. dairy producers also receive extensive government support. The question is not whether governments support important industries. Both countries do. The questions are which measures are acceptable, who benefits, and who pays. The coalition is not formally proposing Canadian-style supply management. …The coalition wants Canada to reduce production, limit lumber entering the United States and accept a smaller American market share. …Free trade cannot mean open markets for American exports and managed scarcity for American imports. A principle applied in only one direction is not a principle. It is protectionism — a policy that shelters inefficient U.S. companies from healthy competition while steadily eroding affordability, suppressing innovation, restricting opportunity and, ultimately, destroying jobs. [A subscription to the Vancouver Sun may be required for full access]
A Canfor spokesperson recently told the Whitecourt Star that discussions with Fox Creek sawmill staff, some of whom may transition to Whitecourt operations after the Fox Creek mill closes, are “ongoing.” The discussions follow Canadian Forest Products (Canfor)’s announcement at the end of July that the Fox Creek sawmill will permanently close by the late summer. “At this time, we have sufficient fibre supply to support our operations in Alberta, including Whitecourt and Grande Prairie,” Canfor media relations told the Star via email. Canfor confirmed approximately 70 staff members are impacted by the closure of the Fox Creek location, adding that it’s anticipated around 30 per cent will be offered other “opportunities.” These opportunities include roles at Whitecourt operations and other locations, or caretaking work at the Fox Creek site, according to Canfor. …The company stated the Fox Creek mill closure will result in a loss of 120 million board feet of production capacity.
The TLA, together with the ILA, NWLA and MNP is pleased to share the 2026 Timber Harvest Cost Model. This model was developed to provide contractors with reliable data to support contract negotiations and align with government requirements. These rates reflect the required revenues of a contractor who runs a reasonably efficient operation. The BC Timber Harvest Rate Model calculates the hourly rates for equipment used in BC’s forest industry. It is designed to give contractors a baseline rate for a selected piece of equipment, serving as a starting point for setting rates. The inputs used in the calculations for the rate guide have been gathered from contractors, equipment manufacturers, service providers and administrative sources. …In May 2025, the beta version of the model was launched and shared with the BC contractor community. Since then, MNP has been gathering feedback from users to identify enhancements that will help contractors determine appropriate equipment rates.
The Municipality of North Cowichan is asking the provincial government to help fund critical infrastructure projects it says are needed to support the redevelopment of the former Domtar pulp mill site in Crofton and future growth throughout the municipality. In a letter to Premier David Eby, Mayor Rob Douglas outlines several priorities related to the closure of the Crofton mill, including securing the community’s long-term drinking water supply, exploring the use of the site’s wastewater treatment facilities and investing in infrastructure needed to support industrial, commercial and residential development. Douglas said North Cowichan’s primary goal is to see the former mill property remain an industrial employment centre while restoring the stable industrial tax base the municipality relied on during the mill’s decades of operation. The Domtar pulp mill ceased operations earlier this year… prompting discussions about how the strategically located waterfront industrial property can be redeveloped for future growth.
OTTAWA — Canada’s forest-products industry is urging the federal government to develop a forestry-specific approach to rail transportation costs and reliability, arguing that the sector faces different competitive pressures than steel and other heavy industries. …For Northwestern Ontario the issue is particularly significant. Mills are often located hundreds of kilometres from major markets, ports and border crossings, making reliable and competitively priced rail service critical to maintaining production and jobs. …According to FPAC, the average shipment of Canadian forest products travels roughly 1,200 kilometres over land…. amount to between $2 billion and $3 billion annually. For mills across Northwestern Ontario, transportation reliability can influence inventory levels, production schedules, export competitiveness and ultimately employment. …For Northwestern Ontario, the rail-cost debate comes at a time when the forest sector is already dealing with pressures from international trade, changing lumber markets, energy and labour costs and the need for continued investment in mills and equipment.
THUNDER BAY — Northern Ontario businesses are facing another period of trade uncertainty as United States President Donald Trump prepares to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on a wide range of Canadian products. …For Northern Ontario, the greatest immediate concern is likely to be forestry, wood and paper products and smaller manufacturers selling into the U.S. market. …FedNor says 96% of Ontario’s forestry exports go to the United States. It also identifies 10 Northern Ontario communities where at least 20 per cent of community income is connected to forestry. Ontario’s forest sector supported more than 128,000 direct and indirect jobs provincewide in 2024. …The tariff schedules are product-specific and some forest products are already covered by other U.S. trade measures. …For Northern Ontario sawmills, paper producers and secondary wood manufacturers, the risk comes from both the tariff itself and the uncertainty surrounding it.
Canadian northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp has gone through a difficult cycle over the past three years. Following exceptionally strong prices after the pandemic, the market weakened as Chinese demand slowed, producer inventories grew and new hardwood pulp capacity came online in South America. …China remains the single most important external influence on Canadian pulp prices. As the world’s largest importer of market pulp, changes in Chinese inventories, paper production and economic growth quickly move global prices. Strong Chinese buying typically supports Canadian producers, while periods of inventory reduction or weak manufacturing place immediate downward pressure on pulp markets. …Recovered (recycled) fibre has become an increasingly important part of the industry. …The industry’s greatest challenge is increasingly on the supply side. …Over the next two to three years, the outlook for NBSK is cautiously positive. Unlike hardwood pulp, very little new softwood capacity is being built globally. [to access the full story, a Globe & Mail subscription is required]
There have been three price increase announcements by the majority producers of containerboard in just five months; most recently PCA’s announcement of a $140/ton (liner and medium) increase effective September 1, 2026; IP announced $80/ton for September 1, 2026, and Smurfit Westrock announced $100/ton. These latest announcements all took place within 3 days of each other. AICC believes these increases are without economic justification based on current rawmaterial inputs and economic data. Producers cite (as they have, again without objective justification,and unconvincingly in such a relatively short period of time in between them) economic need, high operating rates (e.g., Inflation, fuel, labor, insurance), and tight supply to justify these increases. AICC is skeptical of these reasons in the current containerboard and corrugated market. Arguably, the increases are reflective of a small group of producers having market dominance.
NEW YORK, NY — Mercer International reported second quarter 2026 Operating EBITDA of negative $21.0 million, a decrease from negative $20.9 million in the same quarter of 2025 and positive $7.8 million in the first quarter of 2026. In the second quarter of 2026, net loss was $76.0 million compared to $86.1 million in the same quarter of 2025 and $52.0 million in the first quarter of 2026. Mr. Juan Carlos Bueno, Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our pulp sales realizations remained steady this quarter, as continued economic uncertainty delayed market recovery. Our second quarter results were also weighed down by rising European fiber costs, driven by regional supply shortages and intense competition for sawmill residuals from energy producers. As a result, we recognized a non-cash impairment of $29.0 million primarily against pulp and fiber inventory.
VANCOUVER, BC — Conifex Timber reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. EBITDA was negative $6.3 million for the quarter compared to EBITDA of negative $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 and negative EBITDA of $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2025. Net loss was $9.5 million or the quarter versus a net loss of $9.4 million in the previous quarter and a net loss of $8.3 million in the second quarter of 2025. …Revenues from lumber products were $19.0 million in the second quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 27% from the previous quarter and a decrease of 31% from the second quarter of 2025. … Electricity production contributed revenues of $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, $5.2 million in the previous quarter, and $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2025.
VANCOUVER, BC — Western Forest Products reported their second quarter, 2026 result. Q2, 2026 revenue was $239.6 million, compared to $201.5 million in Q1, 2026, and $289.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. …Adjusted EBITDA of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $0.5 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2026 included a $2.3 million expense related to share-based compensation due to a 20% increase in the Company’s share price, compared to a $0.3 million expense in the same period last year. Net income was $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to a net loss of $17.4 million for the same period last year. Results in the second quarter of 2026 included a $31.3 million property insurance recovery from our Columbia Vista sawmill. …Both the North American Japanese lumber markets are expected to be relatively stable through most of the third quarter of 2026.
Urban conversations in North America often seem trapped between competing visions… between detached suburban development, low-scale missing middle housing, and high-rise intensification. An alternative lies in a form of urbanism that has shaped some of the world
Are you looking to enhance your skills in the lumber and sawmill sector? Onboarding new employees that would benefit from formal education in the field? Are you seeking to provide your employees with essential business skills for professional development? BCIT is currently offering two Associate Certificates to help you: 
The public is invited to give feedback on the timber supply review for the Williams Lake timber supply area (TSA). People can share their thoughts on the Williams Lake TSA discussion paper by submitting comments before Oct. 5, 2026. The discussion paper provides the results of a timber supply analysis and describes the current legal requirements, geography, natural resources and forest management practices. The information will be used by B.C.’s chief forester to determine how much timber can be harvested in the TSA annually, which is known as the allowable annual cut (AAC). Before setting the new AAC, the chief forester will consider input from First Nations, industry and community members. Public feedback is a part of every AAC decision and is an opportunity for communities to provide input, which will be considered during the AAC determination.
The District of 100 Mile House received a candid look at the current and projected timber supply for the 100 Mile House Timber Supply Area last week. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Kane Copley, a strategic land manager for the Ministry of Forests, attended council’s regular meeting to deliver and explain the results of the 100 Mile House Timber Supply Area Timber Supply Analysis Discussion Paper. Copley said the review was conducted this year and based on information gathered from January to May. In his presentation, Copley outlined that the Ministry of Forests regularly reviews the timber supply for all areas and tree farm licenses throughout the province. These reviews are done to examine the impacts of current legal requirements and forest management practices on the timber supply, environment, economy and social conditions of the local area.
I am tired of the misdirection surrounding B.C.’s wildfire crisis. …We are constantly told this is strictly a global warming issue—a convenient excuse used to tax regular people for fuel consumption and agricultural methane. But the public needs to realize the truth: local industrial forestry has its foot on the gas pedal, directly creating the explosive conditions for these fires by destroying our natural ecosystem. For decades, the logging industry has used chemical spraying—specifically glyphosate—to systematically wipe out native deciduous trees… In the eyes of timber corporations, these plants are just “weeds” competing with commercial conifer lumber. …We are living in an upside-down system where regular citizens are told to fix global emissions, while multibillion-dollar timber giants are legally allowed to spray chemicals that strip the earth of its natural ability to clean the air, process organic waste, and create oxygen and water for us.
New documents show that more than 300,000 acres of land could be transferred to Vancouver Island First Nations, which are currently finalizing treaties. Approximately 30 parcels of Crown land would be given to five First Nations, which are located from Parksville to Victoria. The list includes Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University, waterfront in Victoria, property next to the legislature, Discovery Island Provincial Park and Sooke Mountain Provincial Park. “This is a betrayal of our core democracy here in British Columbia,” Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said. …Lawyer Geoffrey Moyse spent decades advising the province on Aboriginal law. “There was no requirement to renegotiate the Douglas Treaties, so I think this was a political decision,” he said. Some concerns state that transferred lands would essentially become private property with no legal requirement to preserve public access or adhere to existing zoning.
TORONTO – The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating $30,000 to support individuals, families and communities evacuated by recent wildfires in British Columbia. Hot and dry conditions across much of British Columbia have contributed to another difficult wildfire season, forcing thousands of people from their homes and creating uncertainty for many communities. The United Steelworkers union (USW) has documented impacts in several communities and in workplaces represented by the union across the province. These include evacuations and evacuation alerts, union members serving on local emergency response teams who are helping to protect their communities and fight fires, members trapped in their homes and some who lost their homes to the flames. The SHF is providing $30,000 to the Canadian Red Cross British Columbia Wildfire Appeal to assist those impacted by the wildfires. 
Fire Lake lies near Garibaldi Park. …Five years ago, the B.C. government earmarked the Fire Lake forest as a priority old-growth logging deferral area. Part of the forest sits in a wildlife habitat area that the government set aside for the endangered northern spotted owl… But none of these designations carried any weight last fall when BC Timber Sales auctioned off about 70 hectares of the forest … for clearcut logging. Joe Foy, a campaigner for the Wilderness Committee, drove along freshly bulldozed roads to shoot photos and video of the forest and document recent logging. …When Foy and his colleague combed through B.C. government websites and maps, they discovered the forest around Fire Lake is far from the only federally designated critical habitat for spotted owls that Premier David Eby’s government has slated for logging. …The government claims it is safeguarding species at risk, Foy said, but “species are literally disappearing as they talk.”
A group of protesters gathered outside B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar’s Langford office Sunday, accusing the provincial government of failing to live up to its commitments to protect old-growth forests. The demonstrators say the province is moving in the wrong direction on old-growth protection and pointed to an increase in old-growth timber being offered through BC Timber Sales. …The protest comes amid an ongoing debate over the future of B.C.’s forestry industry, as the province attempts to balance old-growth protection, First Nations rights and the economic importance of forestry. …The province has previously maintained it is working to protect at-risk old-growth forests while supporting forestry-dependent communities and maintaining a viable industry. …The dispute comes as B.C.’s forestry sector faces significant economic challenges. According to the BC Council of Forest Industries, 21 lumber mills have closed permanently or indefinitely since 2023.
Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections 4.107 and 4.110–4.118, Harassment and Violence, of the proposed new Part 4.1, Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. View the proposed regulatory amendments and information on how to provide feedback. Please provide your feedback by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Evacuation orders are in place across parts of the Western U.S. and Southwest Canada as extremely hot and dry conditions fuel the spread of wildfires in the region. There were 183 new fires, including eight large ones, across the U.S. since Saturday, the National Interagency Fire Center reported on Sunday. More than 30,000 personnel with over 640 crews were assigned to the fires. Firefighters were battling more than 94 large fires across the country, the agency also said. …Two pilots died on Friday after their helicopter crashed while battling the Widemouth 2 Fire in Fishlake National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed Sunday. …In Oregon, a bulldozer operator identified by officials as Jason Ensign, died battling the Wrights Spring Fire, which has spread over 33,000 acres and was 0% contained as of Sunday afternoon. …In Canada, there were more than 100 active wildfires in the British Columbia. …A 
As the Bald Ridge wildfire near Summerland, B.C., continues to burn, many are wondering how the blaze spread so quickly. …the Bald Ridge wildfire quickly grew to 50 square kilometres in just three hours after it was first detected. …“It was absolutely shocking to see that fire in Summerland go from an ignition and then spread to a thousand hectares within an hour or so, 5,000 overnight and 10,000 within 24 hours,” Lori Daniels, Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia said. …Cliff Chapman with the B.C. Wildfire Service said conditions in that region of British Columbia right now “are explosive.” …The fires across B.C. are occurring at a time when “fires are coming on the shield of prolonged droughts,” according to Daniels. …Daniels believes that, “if we have forest and trees near us now in Canada,” people in the country are “susceptible” to evacuations and wildfire effects.