The US is increasing the duty it charges on softwood lumber from Canada to 14.5%. In response:
- Gov’t of Canada: Duties harm consumers and producers
- BC Government: We are immensely disappointed with US decision
- US Lumber Coalition: Substantiates that Canada subsidizes its lumber
- BC Lumber Trade Council: Lumber Coalition’s claims are without merit
- Independent Wood Processors Association of BC: Enough is enough!
- Nelson Bennett in Business in Vancouver: US to double lumber duties
In other Business news: railways begin to halt shipments as strike looms; San Group files 2nd lawsuit against Port Alberni; Drax exceeds emission limits in Louisiana; Conifex reports Q2, 2024 net loss; Tolko joins SFPA; IP’s Tom Plath is retiring; and Michigan-based Green Timber acquires Grossman Forestry.
In other news: temporary foreign workers logging in Canada are on the rise; NRCan and Ontario invest in wildfire equipment; a veteran forester worries about Jasper’s neighbours; and the University of Northern BC touts resiliency of its Wood Innovation Lab a year after blast.
Finally, from a reader: science mimics nature to improve aerial tree planting.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
The US Department of Commerce released its final determinations for the fifth Administrative Review (AR5) in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations of imports of certain softwood lumber products from Canada. The final determination rates are listed in the table below. These rates will take effect once they are published in the U.S. Federal Register, expected within approximately one week.
MONTREAL — The country’s two main railways have started to halt shipments ahead of a potential strike or lockout next week, the first step toward a possible shutdown as the bargaining deadline approaches. Canadian National said that the company began to embargo hazardous goods from the U.S. on Monday in anticipation of a work stoppage. The category includes chlorine to disinfect drinking water and ammonia for fertilizer, as well as other toxic or poisonous substances and explosive materials. On Friday, CPKC said it would temporarily ban traffic of dangerous materials. Effective Monday, the company had embargoed all freight classified as toxic or poisonous “inhalation hazards” on its North America-wide network according to a customer advisory. …The two railways warned last week they will lock out 9,300 engineers, conductors and yard workers on Aug. 22 unless they find common ground on new contracts after negotiations stalled over scheduling and wages.
VANCOUVER, BC — Conifex Timber reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. EBITDA was negative $7.1 million for the quarter compared to EBITDA of negative $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2024 and negative $8.7 million in the second quarter of 2024. Net loss was $9.7 million for the quarter versus net loss of $4.5 million in the previous quarter and negative $9.2 million for the year-earlier quarter. Shipments of Conifex-produced lumber totaled 38.5 million board feet in the second quarter of 2024, representing a decrease of 13% from the 44.5 million board feet shipped in the previous quarter. …Electricity production contributed revenues of $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2024, $8.2 million in the previous quarter and $4.8 million in the second quarter of 2023.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches into its third year, international trade has felt the effects as sanctions on Russian exports have expanded. Now researchers have found that the invasion may not only have significant short-term impacts on the global timber markets but may leave lasting effects on the global economy and the environment. These 
A lumber industry-supported group is looking to fund U.S. cities’ efforts to encourage more mass timber use in construction. The
NEW ZEALAND — The wood vs concrete debate elicits lots of huffing and puffing, but the three little pigs didn’t have to worry about hitting carbon emission targets. Red Stag chief Marty Verry says the use of engineered wood has reached “significant” scale in New Zealand, as more developers and designers specify mass timber products across residential and commercial builds. …Mass timber might be grabbing market share from steel and concrete, largely on the back of its carbon zero credentials, but its competing products say it’s not playing by the same rules. …Timber framing is the most common home construction system in New Zealand, but there’s also been a surge in large-scale use of mass timber in the commercial space, with its proponents touting its inherent benefits, in the form of sustainability and speed. Steel fabricators, in particular, suggest the sector should still be using product declarations. [to access the full story a NBR subscription is required]
Australia’s forestry industry raised eyebrows this month when it 
