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Special Feature

Leadership in Turbulent Times: Parmar and Panel Look Ahead

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada

BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar brought passion and urgency to the stage at the COFI Conference in Prince George, delivering a high-energy speech before joining a panel discussion on how leadership across governments, communities, and industry can shape the future of the province’s forest sector. …The centrepiece of Parmar’s remarks was his overhaul of BC Timber Sales (BCTS). Parmar said BCTS must evolve from a market-pricing tool into an active driver of forest stewardship. “We should harness this organization to deliver on the public’s expectations and support the future we want to see in forestry.” He announced that BCTS will double its volume allocation for value-added and untenured manufacturers, allowing small companies to submit joint bids, and that it will expand its leadership role in forest stewardship. The new direction includes commercial thinning, wildfire risk reduction, salvage of damaged timber, and cultural and prescribed burning in partnership with First Nations.

Joining Parmar on the panel were Greg Stewart of Sinclair Group and COFI, Chief Councillor John Jack of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Mercer International CEO Juan Carlos Bueno, and Vancouver City Councillor Lisa Dominato. Together, they tackled questions about long-term sustainability, reconciliation, urban-rural partnerships, and innovation. …In a final round of takeaways, panelists called for trust, collaboration, and urgency. Parmar closed by saying that 2025 must be the year the sector comes together to develop a shared roadmap. “No pressure,” he said. “It’s not just my work—it’s our work. That’s the opportunity we have before us.”

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Premier Eby: Tariffs, Timber, and Transformation at COFI

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada

Premier David Eby delivered the final keynote at the 2025 COFI Conference in Prince George with a firm message of solidarity for British Columbia’s forest sector amid rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Eby painted a stark picture of global instability, citing a sharp downturn in US markets, looming tariffs, and direct threats to the province’s timber industry. …Eby warned that the recently announced US tariffs are likely to increase, targeting not just Canadian timber but pharmaceuticals and autos as well. He described the rationale behind these moves as “ludicrous and absurd,” especially in the context of a national security investigation into Canada’s timber sector. “Regardless of the posturing of the president,” he said, “the reality is that the Americans need Canadian timber.”

The Premier acknowledged that some of the sector’s challenges stem from within the province, citing government policy, court decisions, and endangered species legislation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a working forest target of 45 million cubic meters and noted that new Forests Minister Ravi Parmar was appointed with this explicit goal. Eby highlighted several efforts underway to reach that target. He cited accelerated permitting efforts, forest landscape planning, and prioritized Indigenous agreements. …In closing, Eby said Canada’s response must be both short- and long-term. “We want to continue to expand the use of BC wood products, both nationally and internationally.” He said interprovincial trade reforms may open new markets, but reminded the audience that success begins with supply. “We’ve got to get to the 45 million cubic meters… in order to make sure that we’re getting those products to our primary mills.”

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John Rustad calls for a forestry policy reset

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

BC Conservative Party Leader John Rustad closed out Day 1 of the COFI conference with a direct, politically charged address that called for a full-scale rethinking of provincial forest policy. Speaking in his dual role as Opposition Leader and longtime MLA for Nechako Lakes, Rustad framed his remarks around a central theme: the need to reassert forestry as a cornerstone of the BC economy. …”We need to re-establish a viable, harvestable working forest. Period,” he said. …On wildfire, Rustad argued that current policy places too much emphasis on response and not enough on proactive management. …On Indigenous relations, Rustad struck a tone that blended support for increased economic participation. …He also voiced concerns that forest planning is becoming disconnected from local communities. …”This is a moment of choice,” he said. “We either rebuild our forest sector, or we let it continue to decline.”

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Growing the Canadian market for BC wood

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The COFI panel on growing Canadian markets for BC wood brought together a mix of voices from architecture, Indigenous forestry, and sustainable design to explore how to unlock domestic demand for BC’s wood products. Moderated by Shawn Keyes, Executive Director of WoodWorks BC, the discussion featured Chris Hill, President of BCollective; Robert Manuel, Strategic Advisor with the BC First Nations Forestry Council; and architect Shelley Craig, Principal at Urban Arts Architecture. Keyes said there is enormous untapped potential within Canada itself. …Chris Hill offered an Indigenous business perspective, speaking about the importance of anchoring markets in reconciliation and sustainability. …Robert Manuel emphasized the link between Indigenous forest tenure and economic opportunity. …Shelley Craig described the ways wood is transforming urban architecture and public infrastructure.

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Conservation, consultation, certification and careers in BC’s working forest

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The COFI panel on conservation, consultation, certification, and careers brought together diverse voices from across the forest sector to explore how BC’s working forest can evolve to meet social, economic, and ecological expectations. Moderated by Jason Fisher, Executive Director of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, the discussion featured Lennard Joe, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council; Michael Reid, BC Program Director with Nature United; Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative; and Aspen Dudzic, Director of Communications at the Alberta Forest Products Association and lead for the Forestry Together campaign. Opening the session, Fisher framed the discussion as a turning point for the sector. …Lennard Joe answered with a call to action. …Michael Reid echoed the theme of co-development. …Kathy Abusow brought a national and North American perspective. …Aspen Dudzic described their Forestry Together campaign.

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The interconnected crises of wildfires, community risk, and forest health

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber opened the conference’s second day with a call for systemic change in how western jurisdictions respond to the interconnected crises of wildfires, community risk, and forest health. Speaking from decades of experience, Kitzhaber urged British Columbia to move beyond reactive firefighting and fragmented policy to create a landscape-level, cross-boundary strategy rooted in collaboration. “We need to reframe the problem,” he said. “We have a land management crisis masquerading as a wildfire crisis.” …Following Kitzhaber’s address, the panel tackled the challenge of bringing those high-level ideas into local practice. COFI Vice President Zara Rabinovitch moderated the conversation, which featured MLA Ward Stamer, wildfire researcher James Whitehead, and Klay Tindall of Lil’wat Forestry Ventures.

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Spotlight on innovation, technology and wood construction

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The 2025 COFI Convention spotlighted the theme of innovation in forestry with a session focused on new technologies and opportunities for wood-based construction. Kylie Williams, BC Regional Director for Foresight Canada, introduced the session, emphasizing the critical role of innovation in the face of industry challenges such as fibre supply issues and market uncertainty. …Tim Caldecott, Senior Director of Sustainable Construction and Carbon & Market Economics at FPInnovations, followed with a discussion on the opportunities for wood-based buildings. He acknowledged the growing interest in wood as a building material but pointed out that the market share of wood-based non-residential buildings remains small. …Todd Sayers, Chief Operating Officer at the BC Centre for Innovation in Clean Energy, closed the session by focusing on diversification and the development of new technologies. He discussed the Centre’s work in biofuels and wildfire mitigation technologies.

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Navigating global markets: challenges and opportunities

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The third panel of the 2025 COFI Convention focused on navigating global markets and maintaining competitiveness in the face of challenges. Russ Taylor, President of Russ Taylor Global, opened the session by addressing the disruptions in global markets, particularly with the US trade relationship under President Donald Trump. …Mark Cameron, Fellow & Lead of Canada-US Relations Strategy at the Public Policy Forum, addressed the current state of US-Canada trade relations and the threat of tariffs on Canadian lumber. …Kate Lindsay, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at the Forest Products Association of Canada, followed by discussing the European Union’s new regulation—the EUDR—that will be implemented in December 2025. …Sean Lawler, Managing Director of Canada Wood Japan, provided insights into the state of the Japanese market, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for BC’s forest products in the region.

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Economic outlook and where do we stand on competitiveness and sustainability

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Kurt Niquidet, Vice President and Chief Economist at COFI, opened the panel by discussing timber supply in BC. He explained that the annual allowable cut (AAC) has been trending down, now sitting at approximately 60 million cubic meters. This decline, attributed to factors like the mountain pine beetle outbreak and wildfires, is contributing to a growing gap between the AAC and actual harvests. …He also pointed out the challenges in meeting timber targets, especially with BC Timber Sales (BCTS) falling short of its targets, further stressing the supply crunch. …Glenn O’Kelly of O’Kelly Acumen, who shared findings from a benchmarking report comparing BC’s forestry sector performance with other global jurisdictions. “In the last 10 years, BC’s forestry sector has seen a 3.6% decline in GDP, the lowest of the peer group,” O’Kelly noted. …Despite the challenges, O’Kelly noted that BC had experienced a positive development in terms of productivity.

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Regional Chief Terry Teegee calls for meaningful partnerships and sustainable forestry

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The opening keynote of the 2025 COFI Convention was delivered by Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations. …Teegee underscored the significant role First Nations play in the forestry industry, both as stewards of the land and as active participants in the economic fabric of the sector. …Turning to economic challenges facing the sector, Chief Teegee addressed the threat of tariffs on Canadian lumber products. “These tariffs are more than just a policy issue; they’re creating real-world impacts,” he said, noting the strain on forestry businesses, especially those owned or operated by First Nations. “The uncertainty hits us hard. The social impacts are significant,” he added. He also spoke about the need to build resilience in the sector, stating, “Forestry is a renewable industry…we’re going into second pass and it will always be there.” …Chief Teegee’s address set the tone for the convention, emphasizing the need for partnerships, sustainable practices, and the central role of Indigenous leadership in shaping the future of BC’s forest industry.

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Greg Stewart kicks off 2025 COFI Convention with delegate welcome

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
April 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The 2025 COFI Convention kicked off at the Prince George Civic Centre with an official welcome that set the stage for the two-day event. Greg Stewart, President of Sinclar Group Forest Products and Chair of the COFI Board of Directors, welcomed attendees to the conference, emphasized the significance of the gathering and acknowledged the unceded ancestral lands of the Klaytli Tenei Nation. Chief Dolleen Logan of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation provided an Indigenous welcome, sharing her pride in the relationship between her people and the forestry industry. …Mayor Simon Yu of Prince George followed with a heartfelt address, acknowledging the region’s dependence on the forestry industry and emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to ensure its competitiveness. …Kiel Giddens, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie stressed the need for bold action to navigate the current economic uncertainty and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the forest sector. …Kim Haakstad, the new President and CEO of COFI, closed the welcoming segment by expressing her enthusiasm for the convention and the work ahead. She acknowledged the leadership of former CEO Linda Cody and introduced her vision for the future of COFI and the forest sector.

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The next four years: Canada / US relations & forest products trade

By Kelly McCloskey
Tree Frog Forestry News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, US West

The COFI Day 1 luncheon panel on Canada–US relations and forest products trade brought together political veterans and policy thinkers to unpack the next four years of cross-border dynamics and what they mean for British Columbia’s forest sector. Moderated by Corinne Stavness, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Western Forest Products, the discussion featured Glen Clark, Chair of BC Hydro and former Premier of BC; James Moore, Senior Advisor with Edelman and former federal Industry Minister; and Mark Cameron, Fellow at the Public Policy Forum and leader of its Canada–US Relations Strategy. Clark opened with a clear warning about the US election. “We are entering a period of maximum unpredictability.” …James Moore stressed that Canada must shift from reacting to shaping outcomes. …Mark Cameron provided a broader policy context, noting the bipartisan consensus around economic nationalism is unlikely to shift.

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Summary Wrap-Up: 2025 COFI Convention

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog News
April 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature

The Tree Frog News is featuring the panels and speakers from last week’s BC Council of Forest Industries Convention. On Friday, we carried the Thursday morning keynote speakers and panel sessions, and in today’s Tree Frog News we have the balance of Thursday’s presentations and all of the Friday sessions. Below are links to all of the conference sessions in chronological order.

Day One – April 3, 2025

Day Two – April 4, 2025

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Business & Politics

US set to significantly hike softwood lumber duties against Canada

By Akshay Kulkarni
CBC News
April 5, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The US is set to more than double the duty it charges on softwood lumber imports from Canada, with the planned new rate set at 34.45%, up from the previous 14.54%. …New softwood lumber duties were long-feared amid the growing trade war between Canada and the US, and would be the latest blow to BC’s beleaguered forestry industry, which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. BC Premier David Eby condemned the planned duty hike as an “attack on forest workers and British Columbians” in a statement on Saturday. While Canada may have been spared additional tariffs from the US on Wednesday, anxiety around levies on BC’s softwood lumber industry remains high. …Under the U.S. Tariff Act, the Department of Commerce determines whether goods are being sold at less than fair value or if they’re benefiting from subsidies provided by foreign governments.

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‘Can’t just flip a switch’: Rerouting supply chains amid tariffs poses major hurdles

By Christopher Reynolds
The Canadian Press in BNN Bloomberg
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

MONTREAL — The notion that Canadian companies can simply switch supply chains in response to American tariffs is a fantasy, experts say. Businesses north of the border are looking elsewhere to source their material and sell their products. But companies caught up in tightly braided supply channels after decades of trade pacts and sector specialization may quickly bump into barriers around everything from transport and labour costs to resource availability, manufacturing capacity and market saturation. …Cancelling contracts with Canadian suppliers would trigger breakage fees of up to $500 million per U.S. factory, the group said. Many parts cross the border multiple times before final assembly. …Auto, lumber and steel producers would face some of the toughest challenges in the hunt for new markets, Paschen said. …Forestry players face an entirely different dilemma. Lumber exports, while ample, have a low value per volume compared to some other commodities.

 

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In Win for NAHB, Canadian Lumber Exempt from Trump’s Global Reciprocal Tariffs

The National Association of Home Builders
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The tariff exceptions for Canada and Mexico amount to a major win for NAHB, as Canada accounts for roughly 85% of all US softwood lumber imports and accounts for nearly a quarter of the available supply in the US. Further exempting Mexican products is also a big win given major construction cost drivers such as gypsum, concrete and near-shored appliances. NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes said, “While the complexity of these reciprocal tariffs makes it hard to estimate the overall impact on housing, they will undoubtedly raise some construction costs. However, NAHB is pleased President Trump recognized the importance of critical construction inputs for housing and chose to continue the specific exemption for lumber from any new tariffs at this time.” The fight isn’t over on lumber given a current anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation by the Department of Commerce on Canadian lumber imports and the ongoing national security investigation into imported lumber and timber. 

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High anxiety over softwood lumber despite tone change from US

By Chuck Chiang
The Canadian Press
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

David Eby

British Columbia’s premier said Thursday he is encouraged to see a shifting tone in US President Donald Trump’s talks with Canada, but concerns remain about how tariffs could devastate the province’s softwood lumber sector. Premier David Eby said he will be travelling to Prince George to speak with forest industry representatives on Friday, in light of Trump’s repeated assertions that the US doesn’t need Canadian lumber among other threats against Canada since taking office. …Eby, who spoke with Carney said, …“it was a two-part message for the prime minister this morning. One was to congratulate him on what appears to be a de-escalation for now with the president, and I’m grateful for that. The second is that we can’t trust it.” The premier said Carney is set to visit B.C. “in the coming days” on the federal election campaign, and softwood lumber will be among his top priorities when the two meet.

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Lumber Avoids New Tariffs; Prices Plunge on Fears of a Housing Slowdown

By Ryan Dezember
The Wall Street Journal
April 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Canadian lumber has been left out of Trump’s tariff blitz, despite the president’s repeated threats to add to import taxes to a big chunk of US wood supply. Prices for two-by-fours are tumbling. Lumber futures contracts shed 8.7% to end at $606 per thousand board feet, the lowest price since mid February. They are on track for their worst day since the pandemic-era lumber bubble burst three years ago. Prices had risen this year in anticipation of another layer of import taxes. …That climb is unwinding. But the decline can also be chalked up to expectations that tariffs will push up residential construction prices and strain affordability. The tariffs Trump announced Wednesday will add about $6,400 to the cost of building an average house, UBS analyst John Lovallo estimates. That assumes that about 7% of the materials are imported and subject to an average tariff of 22%. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]

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Canada’s exemption ‘like dodging a bullet into the path of a tank’

By Leyland Cecco
The Guardian
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

OTTAWA — Canada’s exemption from Donald Trump’s global tariffs was “like dodging a bullet into the path of a tank”, say business leaders as other levies are poised to hit key industries that drive the country’s economy. …Canada was noticeably absent, alongside trade ally Mexico. Prime minister Mark Carney said 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, as well as on automobiles, will come into effect within hours. Canada would “fight these measures with countermeasures” he said. Already, Canada had put a 25% tax on C$30bn worth of US goods in response to Trump’s tariffs. …Carney warned that while Trump had preserved key elements of the bilateral relationship, the global tariffs “fundamentally change the international trading system”. …On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators passed a resolution to end the national fentanyl emergency the president invoked to justify the 25% tax on Canadian imports. …House speaker Mike Johnson is unlikely to bring the measure to a vote.

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US tariffs draw dismay and calls for talks from countries around the globe

By Elaine Kurtenbach and David McHugh
The Associated Press
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States, International

Sweeping new tariffs announced by Donald Trump provoked dismay, threats of countermeasures and urgent calls for talks to find ways to rescind the stiff new import taxes imposed on goods from countries around the globe. …Trump maintains they will draw factories and jobs back to the United States. …European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was a “major blow to the world economy.” …British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said he hopes to get the tariffs lifted with a trade deal. …Financial markets were jolted. …China’s Commerce Ministry said Beijing would “resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests,” without saying exactly what it might do. …Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would wait to see how Trump’s announcement will affect Mexico, which like Canada was spared for goods already qualified under their free trade agreement with the United States, though previously announced 25% tariffs on auto imports took effect Thursday.

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A reality check on Trump’s potential ‘Liberation Day’ trade beefs with Canada

By Barbara Shecter
The Financial Post
April 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The United States is scheduled to unveil reciprocal tariffs on a wide array of trading partners, including Canada. Dubbed “Liberation Day” by Donald Trump, the measures are meant to even things out with those who, in Trump’s eyes, have unfairly taken advantage of the US with tariffs and other non-tariff barriers. …Aside from steel, aluminum and autos, which are already facing separate tariffs, here are the issues the U.S. has singled out as problematic in their trade with Canada that could factor in to the Liberation Day announcement, and what economists and trade officials have to say about them. What Trump says: He has lumped his anger about dairy and lumber tariffs together, threatening to act immediately on unfair treatment by Canada. He also said the U.S. does not need any Canadian lumber. Reality Check: There is far from enough lumber produced in the U.S. to meet building demand.

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General tariffs a “major threat” for Alberta forestry as additional softwood lumber duties loom

By Ethan Montague
My Grand Prairie Now
April 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Brock Mulligan

ALBERTA — “Slightly perplexed”- that’s the sense among Alberta’s forestry leaders following the announcements out of the US that tariffs on the already highly disputed softwood lumber export industry are not considered “off the table.” Senior VP of the Alberta Forest Products Association Brock Mulligan says the province’s forest industry continues to operate with a “wait and see” mood, with the understanding that additional duties or tariffs could pose a “major concern” for Alberta’s forest product producers. …Still, Mulligan maintains that there are solutions to protect the province’s forest industry. To start, he says maintaining a line of communication between the service providers in Alberta and the customers across the border. …It’s not just American consumers the AFPA is calling on either. Mulligan is calling on developers maple-side to consider utilizing more domestic wood products.

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Kevin Holland decries US duties on Ontario’s softwood lumber

By Leith Dunick
Northwestern Ontario News Watch
April 5, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East, United States

Kevin Holland

THUNDER BAY – Ontario’s associate minister of forestry and forest products has issued a joint statement with the minister of economic development, job creation and trade on the impact of softwood lumber duties. The United States Department of Commerce plan to nearly triple anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber is disappointing and damaging, said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland, the associate minister of forestry and forest products. “Ontario is deeply disappointed that the United States intends to drastically raise duty rates on Canadian softwood lumber exports later this year. These unjustified and punitive measures will raise construction costs and further strain housing affordability for American families,” said Holland. …“Ontario’s softwood lumber producers deliver high-quality and sustainably harvested building materials that support jobs, communities, and economic growth on both sides of the border.

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Steelworkers to gather in Toronto for National Policy Conference

United Steelworkers
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

In April 2023, close to 600 USW activists, staff and retirees from across the country gathered in Toronto for the 55th USW National Policy Conference, this central body that guides our union’s direction in Canada. Under the theme Engage, Mobilize, Organize, conference delegates debated dozens of policy resolutions submitted by USW locals from every region of the country. …Led by the USW Wood Council… Steelworkers continue to lobby the federal government to seek a fair and equitable resolution to the softwood lumber dispute with the US. The union also is advocating for the federal and provincial governments to develop a co-ordinated, intergovernmental strategy to reduce the export of raw logs, ban raw log exports from old-growth forests, impose progressively higher taxes on log exports from second-growth forests and provide incentives for the domestic manufacturing of raw logs into finished products. 

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New Brunswick considers cutting deal with wood firms to beat Trump tariffs

By John Chilibeck
The Telegraph-Journal
April 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

John Herron

New Brunswick might charge timber and paper companies less money for cutting trees on public land should the United States impose another round of punishing tariffs on the wood industry. Facing questions during main estimates on Tuesday, Natural Resources Minister John Herron told a legislative committee he was prepared to defend what he called New Brunswick’s principal economic engine, worth $3 billion a year in exports and employing close to 24,000 people. “We know if the wood stays in the forest, the sawmills don’t turn,” he said. “We’re paying very close attention to that.” There’s growing fear that U.S. President Donald Trump will announce additional tariffs on Canadian wood products on Wednesday. …Herron told the House on Tuesday he wants to protect the $2 billion in payroll the industry spends on its workers. …But lowering stumpage fees would also feed into the arguments made by the US for imposing countervailing duties. [to access the full story, a subscription may be required]

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Escalation of Harmful Canadian Softwood Lumber Subsidies Confirmed by the US Department of Commerce

The US Lumber Coalition
April 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

The US Department of Commerce announced the preliminary determination of an anti-subsidy rate of 14.38% in the sixth annual review of unfairly traded Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The Commerce Department has determined a combined preliminary anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 34.45% for Canadian lumber imported in calendar year 2023. …“These unfair trade practices are designed by Canada to maintain an artificially inflated US market share for Canadian products,” stated Andrew Miller, Owner/Chair of Stimson Lumber Company and Chairman of the US Lumber Coalition. “Massive predatory unfair practices, whether committed by Canada or China, causes serious harm to US industries and workers,” said Miller. …“The American lumber industry and forestry sector today has the capacity to supply nearly all US lumber demand.” …Enforcing the US trade laws helps increase the US supply of lumber to build American homes, all without impacting the cost of a new home. 

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Trump’s tariffs prompt China to retaliate with 34% levy on US imports

CBS News
April 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, International

BEIJING — China announced that it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10. The new tariff matches the rate of the US tariff announced by President Trump this week. The White House used a formula to calculate the sum of all the trade practices it deems unfair from other nations. Economists have questioned the methodology, and many foreign governments have complained the levies misrepresent their trade imbalances. …The Chinese government said it would add 27 U.S. companies to lists of firms subject to trade sanctions or export controls. According to China’s tightly controlled media, the expanded export controls would cover seven types of rare earth related items, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium.

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Uncertainty Reigns as ‘Liberation Day’ on Tariffs Approaches

National Association of Home Builders
April 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

The president has announced he will impose “reciprocal tariffs” on all nations on April 2. There is currently no procedure in place for how the tariffs will be implemented. …Tariffs on building materials act as a tax on American builders, home buyers and consumers. Builders estimate an average cost increase of $9,200 per home due to recent tariff actions, according to the March 2025 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Of course, the effects of the tariffs on the housing industry go far beyond Canadian lumber. For example, 70% of the imports of gypsum, which is used to make drywall, comes from Mexico. …The tariffs are not only expected to raise the cost of building materials — which are up 34% since December 2020, far higher than the rate of inflation — but also wreak havoc on the building material supply chain. In turn, this will put even more upward price pressure on building materials. Here is what the NAHB doing.

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New Tariffs, But Not On Timber And Lumber

By New Zealand Wood Products Manufacturers Association
Scoop Independent News
April 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

NEW ZEALAND — The temporary exemption of tariffs on timber and lumber imported into the US provides some relief to New Zealand exporters. Though this exemption could be short lived based on the outcome of the Section 232 investigation aimed at determining the effects imports of timber, lumber and their derivative products have on the US supply chain. Exports of radiata pine products from New Zealand to the US were estimated at $358 million, making the US our third largest export market behind China and Australia. …The exemption comes about through internal US lobbying, by the likes of the American Building Materials Alliance and National Association of Home Builders.  …The administration has recognised that raising costs on timber and lumber would hurt housing affordability and weaken an important supply chain. …We thank our kindred Associations in the US for making this happen. We now wait for completion of the s. 232 investigation.

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Finance & Economics

How will tariffs hit the residential construction industry?

By Wheeler Cowperthwaite
The Providence Journal
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island [At the JLC Live Residential Construction Show] – What will tariffs mean for the residential construction industry? It depends. …Since all the other asphalt shingle manufacturers get their oil from Canada, the most likely scenario is that all the companies raise their prices, even if the shingles are produced in the US. Canadian shingle manufacturers will feel the most pain when exporting to the American market because of the cost of tariffs on their finished product, Hartnett said. Canadian wood: Manufacturers and sellers of anything wood related are going to feel the pinch. Wood is one of the most-used materials in residential construction (aluminum and steel are more prevalent in commercial and large residential buildings), and much of it comes from Canada. New Hampshire wood supplier Weyerhaeuser’s John Evans said much of their raw materials come from Canada, which will be hit by tariffs.

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Global markets plunge on Trump’s tariff turmoil

By David Goldman
CNN
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US stocks opened lower Monday as markets around the world tumbled over concerns about how President Trump’s sweeping tariffs might upend the global economy and stymie US economic growth. Markets opened in bear market territory – a decline of 20% from a recent peak – after a historic rout in Asia and massive losses in Europe. The Dow fell 1,200 points, or 3.2%. The broader S&P 500 was 3.4% lower and opened in bear territory. The Nasdaq Composite slid 3.96%. The S&P 500 hit a record high less than seven weeks ago, on February 19. If the index closes in bear market territory, that would be the second-fastest peak-to-bear market shift in history. Wall Street’s fear gauge has surged to levels not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic as investors fret over the market’s next move. CNN’s Fear and Greed Index has slumped to its lowest levels this year.

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Trump Tariff Showdown Will Dampen US Housing Affordability

Realty+
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US trade wars could have major implications for an already tenuous housing market….A price hike on building materials will likely make building affordable housing feasible, an approach that many real estate experts believe is crucial to resolving the housing market gridlock. The housing sector comprises over 15% of the US GDP and will be heavily impacted by tariffs on building materials such as lumber and steel. And 70% of imported lumber comes from Canada. The NAHB noted that the tariffs are “not only expected to raise the cost of building materials, which are up 34% since December 2020, far higher than the rate of inflation, but also wreak havoc on the building material supply chain. In turn, this will put even more upward price pressure on building materials.” …Uncertainty stemming from the newly unveiled tariffs has eroded consumer and investor confidence, which has, in turn, diminished homebuyer optimism.

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Dow drops 1,100 points, crushed for a second day on fears Trump has ignited a global trade war

By Brian Evans, Alex Harring & John Melloy
CNBC News
April 4, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The stock market took another pounding Friday after China retaliated with new tariffs on U.S. goods, raising fears a trade war will tip the globe into a recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 1,130 points, or 2.8%. This follows a 1,679.39 point decline on Thursday. The S&P 500 slid 3.2% after the benchmark shed 4.84% on Thursday. The Nasdaq Composite shed 3.5% as many tech companies have exposure to China. …“The Trump administration may be playing a game of chicken with trading partners, but market participants aren’t willing to wait around for the results,” said Michael Arone, at State Street Global Advisors. “Investors are selling first and asking questions later.” Bank stocks tumbled in the premarket as worries of a U.S. economic slowdown grew. …The 10-year Treasury yield fell back below 4% Friday as investors flooded into bonds for safety. JPMorgan late Thursday raised the odds of a recession this year to 60% from 40%.

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US emerges as biggest loser in markets from Trump’s tariffs

By Richard Henderson and Sagarika Jaisinghani
BNN Bloomberg
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, International

US President Trump’s shake-up of the global trading system is hurting US assets more than those in many of the big economies he has just slapped with additional tariffs. US equity index futures tumbled more than 4% after Trump announced a sweeping series of tariffs, and a gauge of the US dollar slumped. But the impact elsewhere was less extreme. The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 1.9%, while the euro was up 2.2% against the US dollar, hitting its highest level since October. A broad gauge of Asian stocks fell as much as 1.7%. The widespread selloff in global markets makes clear that investors don’t expect any winners from the latest — and by the far the largest — salvo in a growing trade war. But they also suggest the US itself might be one of the biggest victims of Trump’s protectionist policies. …Overall, the US dollar headed for its worst day in over two years.

Related in NPR: Dow drops 1,500 points on trade war fears over new tariffs

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US Manufactured Homes: An Alternative Means of Housing Supply

By Catherine Koh
NAHB Eye on Housing
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Manufactured homes play a measurable role in the U.S. housing market by providing an affordable supply option for millions of households. According to the American Housing Survey, there are 7.2 million occupied manufactured homes in the U.S., representing 5.4% of total occupied housing and a source of affordable housing, in particular, for rural and lower income households. Often thought of as synonymous to “mobile homes” or “trailers”, manufactured homes are a specific type of factory-built housing that adheres to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards code. …The East South Central division (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee) have the highest concentration of manufactured homes, representing 9.3% of total occupied housing. The Mountain region follows with 8.5%, while the South Atlantic region holds 7.7%.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Intelligent City starts production on nine-storey Toronto mass timber project

Daily Commercial News
April 7, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

TORONTO — A Vancouver-based company that specializes in the design, engineering and manufacturing of prefabricated mass timber building systems for mid-to-highrise urban housing has started production on a nine-storey build in Toronto’s west-end neighbourhood. Set to rise at 230 Royal York Dr. the housing project… is developed by Windmill Developments and Leader Lane Developments. Intelligent City’s manufacturing facility in Delta, BC, will manufacture the main structure and envelope of the building over the course of four months using advanced automation, including industrial robots and AI to process and assemble building parts on the production line. Onsite installation will begin in May, and it is expected that within 90 days the entire structure and enclosure of the building will be completed. “This project is a testament to how prefabrication can meet growing housing demand,” says Oliver David Krieg, president of Intelligent City. 

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Mercer Mass Timber powers Walmart’s new mass timber campus, the largest in the US

By Larry Adams
The Woodworking Network
April 3, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

SPOKANE VALLEY, Washington – Mercer Mass Timber (MMT) is playing a key role in the construction of Walmart’s new Home Office in Bentonville, Arkansas—the largest mass timber corporate campus in the United States. The installation of the mass timber panels began in Spring 2024 and is now fully complete. Shawmut Design and Construction and Layton Construction selected MMT to provide cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (Glulam) for two major sections of the campus, opening in late 2025 to early 2026. …Mercer Conway, located in Conway, Arkansas, supplied a total of 21,000 cubic meters of CLT and Glulam while providing jobs for 58 local employees. …”This project showcases how mass timber can transform commercial construction,” said Nick Milestone, SVP at Mercer Mass Timber. “We’re proud to support Walmart’s sustainability vision and demonstrate how local, eco-friendly materials create beautiful, high-performance workplaces.”

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Oregon State Releases Permit Ready Plan For Decks

My Central Oregon
April 4, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) has published its first permit-ready plan under the state’s updated Permit-Ready Plans Program. The building plans, available free to the public, are for a code-compliant residential deck. The Permit-Ready Plans Program creates an efficient pathway for the state to develop and make publicly accessible building plans that meet the requirements of the state building code. Plans are published to the BCD website. …The first plan published is a single-level, wood-framed, exterior deck attached to a building regulated by the Oregon Residential Specialty Code. BCD anticipates publishing more permit-ready plans for other residential accessory structures such as pole buildings, detached garages, patio covers, and carports later this year. The division will start developing plans for smaller detached dwelling units by the end of 2025.

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Forestry

Canfor and Canfor Pulp demonstrate ESG performance in 2024 Sustainability Report

By Canfor Corporation
Cision Newswire
April 2, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

VANCOUVER, BC – Canfor Corporation and Canfor Pulp Products released their joint 2024 Sustainability Report today. The report describes the companies’ approach to managing environmental, social and governance activities, and reports on established targets. Canfor CEO Susan Yurkovich said, “Sustainability is at the forefront of our business and we continually strive to be better at all that we do.” 2024 performance highlights include: Maintaining certifications for sustainable forest management and fibre procurement activities, with 100% of Canfor-managed forests certified to SFI® or FSC® Forest Management Standards, 100% of sourced fibre in North American operations managed to the SFI Fibre Sourcing Standard and 100% of Swedish forestry operations certified to the PEFC Forest Management Standard. …Advancements in safety, health and wellness initiatives. …Investing in communities, with more than $2 million donated. …Continuing to pursue our goal to be net zero by 2050.

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Health & Safety

Tennessee looking into Domtar and odors in Kingsport

By Belle Johnson
WJHL Tennessee
April 4, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States, US East

KINGSPORT, Tennessee – The Domtar Packaging Mill in Kingsport has operated for decades, and residents have noticed one significant aspect of the mill that some believe has caused community strife: the smell. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is currently investigating three complaints about the odor from Domtar between March 31 and April 1. The TDEC said: “Although TDEC does not regulate odors, we do want to ensure that the facility is complying with its permit conditions.” …At the last Kingsport Economic Development Board meeting on April 1, Domtar updated the board on the wastewater treatment system plan. …The short-term plan involves reducing mill material losses and flow and optimizing the current wastewater treatment system. Domtar says this will last around a year. The long-term plan involves building a new anaerobic digester system. Domtar estimates that this project could take up to 18 months.

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