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Business & Politics

Eby invokes Canadian kindness in support of Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs

By Wolfgang Depner
The Canadian Press in Yahoo
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

BC Premier David Eby invoked the memory of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Canadian efforts to help their “closest friend” as he voiced support for Ottawa’s counter tariffs on the United States. …”Nobody wanted this trade war. Canadians sure didn’t start it,” he said. …The forestry sector and those who depend on it are already hurting, he said, promising to work with the industry directly. Eby said his government would also protect public services, though his pledge comes as the current forecast projects a record-setting deficit of $13.3B… adding it was “appalling” that it was cheaper for Russian lumber to get into the American market than it was for lumber from BC. …Eby also unveiled plans for new signs at border crossings bearing a message saying welcome to BC, Canada: “strong, proud and will never be the 51st state. Sorry!” He said the message was one of confidence and good humour.

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Carney convenes inner circle with Canada-U.S. trade war at fever pitch

CTV News
September 10, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Prime Minister Carney will convene his cabinet today in Banff, Alta., a day after US President Trump claimed Canada is “dying” to make a trade deal. Both countries have imposed levies on a wide range of imported goods. Canadian counter-tariffs, which went into effect on Tuesday in response to American levies, cover $27.6 billion in American steel, dairy, paper, and other goods. The same day, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, barring a series of Canadian imports to the U.S. outright, including motorcycles, booze and whey. He has also signed an order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” criticized Canada’s relative lower dollar, and posted a series of memes – one which called Carney “governor,” and another depicting Canada and Greenland under an American flag. …Canada will scale back environmental review for major energy projects. …Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre heads to Washington. …Democrats call Trump’s trade offensive “pointless”.

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Trump hits back at Canada with import bans, more tariff hikes

By Oliver Ward, Ari Hawkins and Zi-Ann Lum
Politico
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

President Trump responded to new tariffs on U.S. exports Tuesday by announcing bans on U.S. imports of Canadian motorcycles, dairy products and alcohol, and directed officials to restrict Canadian access to U.S. procurement programs. From Sept. 29, these Canadian exports will no longer be permitted to enter the U.S. market, according to a trio of proclamations published Tuesday night. …Trump spent the weekend lashing out at Ottawa over its decision to match U.S. tariff hikes dollar-for-dollar. Those duties on some $20 billion in U.S. exports went into effect Tuesday morning. …The president deployed the same legal statute he used to hike tariffs on Canadian exports last month. …In addition to banning certain Canadian exports, the president also tweaked the scope ofthe existing 50% tariffs that went into effect last month, adding cheeses, boats, metal products, and leather products beginning Sept. 15, and excluding road salt, cement, certain hospital products, fishing rods and other products. 

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Ottawa engages Forest Economic Advisors LLC to find five new markets for Canadian softwood lumber

The Western Standard
September 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Ottawa will pay BC consultant Forest Economics Advisors LLC of Port Coquitlam, $84,000 to identify five countries that could buy more Canadian softwood lumber, nearly a year after Prime Minister Carney announced a $1.2 billion plan to diversify the industry away from the US market. …The consultant will be tasked with estimating how much Canadian lumber could realistically be sold in each prospective market and how quickly exports could grow. The study will also examine demand forecasts, international trade patterns and transportation costs. Natural Resources additionally wants the consultant to calculate how much money Canadian sawmills would have to spend retooling their facilities to manufacture products suitable for the identified markets. “The department is seeking a comprehensive analysis that identifies likely offshore growth markets for softwood lumber demand and evaluates Canada’s ability to compete in and sell to those markets,” said the contract notice. The final report is due Jan. 29.

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Canada’s retaliatory tariffs worth $27.6 billion take effect as trade rift with U.S. deepens

By Jenni Reid
CNBC News
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on a swathe of U.S. goods took effect on Tuesday after trade talks collapsed last month, as relations between Washington and Ottawa continue to sour. The duties range from 15% to 50% across hundreds of U.S. products worth a total $27.6 billion, including dairy, agricultural equipment, paper, household appliances and electronics. Canadian tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum and iron products doubled to 50%, while furniture, motorbikes, clothing and some beauty products were among the goods hit with the highest rate. …U.S. President Trump on Monday called for a boycott of Canadian airplane manufacturer Bombardier, posting on Truth Social: “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” The U.S. exported $333.6 billion worth of goods to Canada, and imported $381.9 billion from its northern neighbor. …Economists say that while the impacted goods are a relatively small portion of overall trade, small- to medium-sized businesses and those in the most-impacted sectors face a severe blow.

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Carney warns of tough times ahead in national address as retaliatory tariffs kick in

By Nick Murray
The Canadian Press in Bloomberg
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Mark Carney

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Carney is warning Canadians that the country’s pivot away from the United States will come at a cost, but that the alternative would be far worse. In a national video address set to be released after Canada’s retaliatory tariffs kicked in — Carney reiterated Canada’s plan to respond to the US trade war by striking new trade deals with other countries to become less reliant on the US. …“That pivot will come at a cost. There’s always a cost to action. But it doesn’t come close to the cost of standing still.” …Carney said the aim is to come out stronger and more resilient so “no country can ever hold us hostage, and that we can live how we want to live.” …Federal conservatives continued calls over the weekend for Carney to release the full details of the deal Canada walked away from. [Click here to view video]

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US-Canada Trade War Serves No Intelligible Purpose

By the Editorial Board
Bloomberg Opinion
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

One of the world’s closest trading relationships is about to break down at enormous cost to both countries — and for no intelligible reason. …Canadian Prime Minister Carney suggested the US made unacceptable last-minute demands, including measures that would “compromise Canada’s sovereignty or undermine our key industries.” US Trade Representative Greer said Canada inexplicably turned its back on improvements that would’ve made a good deal for both sides even better. That claim was hardly credible. This White House has shown no interest in mutual advantage. …American voters, on the other hand, may be unwilling to bear any burden merely to show Canada who’s boss. …US businesses are puzzled too. Many American companies have supply-chains tightly linking domestic and Canadian operations. …But it isn’t too late to step back. Washington should revert to the terms in play before the talks collapsed. …If the worst happens, who are Americans heading to the polls in November going to blame?

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Trump’s threats against Canada are self-defeating

By Robert Zoellick, US Trade Representative during NAFTA negotiations
The Financial Times
August 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Robert Zoellick

Why must President Trump bully Canada? Americans might not take jibes about the “51st state” seriously, but what Canadians see is an attack on their independence and even unity. They acknowledge US economic power, but expect Americans to keep their word. In contrast, Trump wants to bind Canada while being free to change terms whenever he wishes. …President Reagan recognised that an integrated North America offers the US a firmer continental foundation for projecting influence globally. By building closer ties, the three democracies of North America could enjoy energy self-sufficiency and even exports, access to key minerals, manufacturing efficiencies, more secure supply chains, a larger market for innovation and better demographics than the rest of the world. …US goods and services trade with Canada has grown to about $900bn a year — and is almost in balance. …No American leader should dishonour the country’s past by treating our closest partners so shabbily. 

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Which Trump-Supporting States Will Feel Canada’s Tariff Fury?

The Walrus Magazine
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The complete index of American products subject to Canadian retaliatory tariffs on September 8 include more than 600 different entries. Searching for patterns can drive you to madness. Butterfly nets will be hit with a 50 percent tariff. So will eye make-up preparations and fish egg incubators. …When asked about the decision-making process, industry minister Mélanie Joly said some goods are meant to hurt Trump-supporting states, though she declined to say which. …States with Republican senators, such as Maine, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, and Texas, all have substantive trade relationships with Canada—and are considered possible battleground states. Some experts are calling the issue “a political trap for Republicans,” with Democrats already seizing on the matter as a talking point. Here’s a look at some of the red states vulnerable to Canada’s new round of tariffs and the industries that may feel the most hardship.

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U.S. Senator says returning to CUSMA negotiation best path to repair fractured trade relationship

By Sydney Ko
iPolitics
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Ruben Gallego

U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego says returning to the CUSMA negotiating table is the best path toward repairing the fractured Canada-U.S trade relationship. …“I think we should be repealing all of our tariffs between the United States and Canada,” Gallego said on Tuesday in the U.S. Embassy. The Arizona Democrat said his visit was intended in part to reassure Canadians that Democrats do not share Trump’s administrative approach to the relationship, while emphasizing the economic stakes for his home state. This comes as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is set to introduce legislation to repeal President Trump’s latest tariffs on Canadian goods, as well as the separate duties that the Trump administration says are linked to forced labour supply chains. …Gellego said the effects of the trade dispute are already being felt in the U.S., pointing to housing as one example because of American reliance on Canadian lumber.

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Government of Canada investments defend Saskatchewan workers and businesses from U.S. tariffs

By Prairies Economic Development Canada
PR Newswire
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

REGINA, Saskatchewan — The Government of Canada is now matching the new U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar and is providing $7.5 billion in new and enhanced support for affected workers and businesses. As part of these efforts, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Canada’s other Regional Development Agencies are now delivering $3.45 billion in an expanded Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) to help more businesses affected by tariffs. Support is also available for not-for-profit organizations that help businesses adapt, grow, and expand domestic trade opportunities. Today, Minister Eleanor Olszewski announced expanded support through RTRI, with applications now being accepted from eligible SMEs and organizations. In Saskatchewan, the Honourable Buckley Belanger also announced, on behalf of Minister Olszewski, $5.3 million for six RTRI projects led by firms across Saskatchewan.

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Brink Forest Products to cut 50 jobs at its Prince George lumber plant

By Hanna Petersen
CBC News
September 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

PRINCE GEORGE, BC — John Brink, CEO of Brink Forest Products, announced he will be cutting the number of employees from 85 workers to approximately 30 at his Prince George finger-joint lumber plant starting next week. …In the last year, Brink’s facilities in both Vanderhoof and Houston indefinitely ceased operations, resulting in more than 100 jobs lost. Between the three plants, Brink employed roughly 400 people. “In northern BC, it is a graveyard of sawmills through the communities,” he said. “Secondary manufacturers, in a lot of cases, rely on primary manufacturers for an input of fibre.” Brink says his company is not only navigating ongoing fibre supply challenges, but rising U.S. tariff costs, and limited access to financing. …As Canada is set to impose retaliatory tariffs on a number of products from the US, Brink expects costs to continue to rise. “Parts and pieces that we need imported from the US may be subject to duties.”

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Negotiators to work with Domtar on potentially keeping Howe Sound mill open

By Sandra Thomas
The Coast Reporter
September 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

It’s early days, but MLA Randene Neill says there is some “encouraging” news regarding the “indefinite idle” of the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill and Bayview Fibre chipping facility in Port Mellon. “We have appointed two negotiators from the province and [mill owner] Domtar has accepted our offer of getting back to the table to see what we can do to save the mill and all of the jobs that depend on it,” Neill said. …The negotiators include Don Wright, who has served as the province’s deputy minister to the premier, cabinet secretary, and head of public service for years. …Don Kayne has also been named as negotiator. Kayne is the former president and CEO of Canfor. “These two are incredibly smart people and we’re confident that their experience and knowledge of the forest sector will support really good discussions with the Domtar team,” said Neill, MLA for Powell River – Sunshine Coast. “

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Defence minister non-committal on Crofton navy base proposal

By Michael John Lo
The Times Colonist
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

David McGuinty

National Defence Minister David McGuinty says the federal government has received a proposal to turn the pulp and paper mill site at Crofton into a navy base, but made no commitments. McGuinty said similar offers are received “weekly” from across the country offering locations, assets and infrastructure to his department. …Greater Victoria remains the “most strategic location” for Canada when it comes to Pacific operations, said McGuinty. …Jeff Kibble, MP for Cowichan-Malahat Langford, has been campaigning for the federal government to consider a new base in Crofton to help ease future congestion at CFB Esquimalt. The Crofton site, which is up for sale following the closure of the Domtar pulp and paper mill, has both industrial capability and a deep-water port. …Rear-Admiral David Patchell, said that there are currently no plans for a second navy base in BC.

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Mission businesses grapple with uncertainty amid Canada-U.S. trade war

By Dillon White
The Mission Record
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

For Mission businesses enduring the trade war with the United States, uncertainty is the real killer. …A spokesperson for Gill Timbers International, a local timber and lumber exporter, said the trade war is devastating for businesses on both sides of the border. “Businesses can only thrive on certainties,” the spokesperson said. Gill Timbers International estimates that about 90 per cent of its business has been lost during the “ongoing back and forth” between Canada and the United States. Before Trump was elected, the business had a presence inside the U.S. but has needed to scale back and diversify since. … Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Miriam Bozman said “Mission’s economy is very closely tied to cross-border trade through forestry and wood products, manufacturing, logistics, construction, agriculture. Increased costs, supply chain disruptions, and market uncertainty significantly affect business planning and growth across our community,” Bozman said.

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Nanaimo’s business community prepares for new American tariffs

By Robert Barron
Nanaimo News Bulletin
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Nanaimo is bracing for the impacts the implementation of the 50% tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian goods that came into effect on Aug. 22 will have on the local business community. Julie Sperber, the new CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce said… it’s clear that many of the region’s forest companies are going to take a big hit. …“Companies like the Harmac Pacific pulp mill won’t be affected as much because much of their products go to Asia, but Coastland Wood Industries are feeling the impacts of US tariffs for the first time.” Secondary-wood products like veneer sheets have been explicitly targeted for the first time. Doug Pauze, president of Coastland, said the company has scaled back production. …Sperber said officials from Western Forest Products and Mosaic Forest Management have planned meetings with government members in Victoria to discuss strategies to deal with the tariffs.

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Vancouver Island MP asks Ottawa to consider buying Crofton mill

By Kendall Hanson
Chek News
August 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford is calling on the federal government to explore how it could potentially use the Crofton mill. MP Jeff Kibble is floating the idea of it being used by the Department of National Defense. …On Friday, crews were loading logs onto a ship at its deep sea port. It’s one of the key assets of the property that has the region’s MP calling on Ottawa to consider the property’s purchase. “What I recommended is that the government immediately conduct a feasibility study to see if this is an opportunity to expand the base at Esquimalt. We know that the opportunity to have a deep water industrial site is rare and we also know that the navy is expanding rapidly,” said Kibble. Kibble served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 28 years. …When asked about Kibble’s proposal, Domtar said it’s “exploring a variety of possibilities for the future of the site”.

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Nackawic on edge as pulp mill owner evaluates options

By Jacques Poitras
CBC News
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

NEW BRUNSWICK — Residents of Nackawic-Millville are on edge this week as the future of the local pulp mill, the community’s largest employer, appears increasingly uncertain. The mill owner, AV Group, told the provincial government that it is “evaluating all of the strategic options for their mill and its operations,” according to Natural Resources Minister John Herron. …Unifor, the union representing workers at the mill, said it has 270 members working there. Nackawic-Millville Mayor Greg MacFarlane said the mill and jobs that spin off from its operations represent nearly half of the town’s tax base. …The AV Group, the mill owner, told CBC News in August that it had stopped buying wood for the mill because it had plenty of inventory for its operations and needed to manage its cash flow. …The mill does not export to the United States, so tariffs are not to blame for the uncertainty.

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Tariffs have some mom-and-pop manufacturers considering move to United States

By Brett Bundale
The Canadian Press in CTV News
September 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

A Canadian Muskoka chair maker hit hard by US tariffs is considering moving the bulk of its manufacturing to the United States. DFC Woodworks has been making outdoor wooden patio furniture including Muskoka chairs — also called Adirondack chairs — since 1955. The Kemptville, Ontario company exports about 70% of its furniture to the US, but those goods are now subject to a steep 50% US duty. …DFC Woodworks president François Bruneau said “If we raise prices, it will make us non-competitive and sales will go down. If we don’t, the tariffs will sink us.” The Muskoka chair maker’s dilemma illustrates the challenges facing many Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises, said Fen Hampson at Carleton University. DFC Woodworks makes all its outdoor patio furniture in Ontario using BC western red cedar and eastern select pine. …DFC Woodworks has diversified in recent years, growing sales to Europe with plans to export to Japan.

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Quebec wood products maker appeals US softwood lumber duty ruling

Trade Law Daily
September 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East, United States

Mobilier Rustique, a Quebec manufacturer of Eastern white cedar products, is appealing a US Court of International Trade ruling that upheld the Commerce Department’s latest findings in a long-running dispute over countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber. According to Trade Law Daily, the Saint-Martin company filed a notice of appeal Sept. 2. Mobilier Rustique was among several Canadian companies that sought an expedited review after receiving the 14.19% “all-others” countervailing duty rate because they were not individually examined in the original investigation. Commerce’s 2019 expedited review calculated a 1.99% rate for Mobilier Rustique and its cross-owned affiliates. The case subsequently resulted in multiple court rulings and Commerce remand determinations. In July, the Court of International Trade sustained Commerce’s latest remand results. Mobilier Rustique is now appealing that ruling. [to access the full story a Trade Law Daily subscription is required]

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Forestry workers in the spotlight on Day 2 of Canadian Council

Unifor Canada
August 29, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Stéphane Lefebvre

Delegates to Unifor’s Canadian Council in Ottawa turned their attention Saturday to advancing national bargaining priorities and defending workers in industries facing profound economic change. Council addressed the mounting crisis facing workers in Canada’s forestry industry, which employs close to 200,000 people, where mill closures, curtailments and workforce reductions have devastated communities already confronting U.S. tariffs, volatile export markets and insufficient investment. “Employers and governments have repeatedly underinvested in the forestry industry,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier. …Stéphane Lefebvre, President of the Unifor’s Forestry Council, who himself is facing a workplace closure, presented a National President’s Recommendation: Fighting for the Future of Canada’s Forestry Sector, which calls for a comprehensive strategy to transform and strengthen the sector. Council adopted the recommendation that day at council. “We are going to have a National Day of Action in forestry communities all over the country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne vowed.

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Northern Pulp’s demolition to close a hard chapter in Pictou’s history

By Aaron Beswick
The Chronicle Herald
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

The half-century-old mill at the heart of debate and division in Pictou County is coming down. Environment Minister Timothy Halman issued an amended order allowing the mill’s current owner, Northern Timber Nova Scotia Corp., to tear it down and clean up the site at Abercrombie Point. …“As part of the company’s requirement, the updated ministerial order also requires the company to determine if any upgrades are needed to its surface water management process.” The company has said it intends to start work associated with the demolition “as early as September.” …Halman’s directive gives the company 18 months to complete the work, with all solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, going to a facility approved of by his department. …Northern Timber’s 172,000 hectares of forest land and its tree nursery were sold to Tidnish Holdings as part of Northern Pulp’s creditor protection proceedings. …$15M was set aside for winding up the plant.

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US-Canada trade war squeezes Washington’s lumber industry

KGW News, Washington
September 9, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

Washington businesses are bracing for the impact of Canadian tariffs on American goods. One of the state’s largest industries, lumber, is already feeling the pressure. One company says uncertainty over trade policy is raising the cost of imported materials, weakening demand, and making it harder to budget projects. Tariffs might be a short term thing, but the repercussions of them play out for years. Canada is Washington’s 2nd largest export market with more than $7 billion in goods shipped north of the border last year. Governor Bob Ferguson says exports have already topped $4 billion this year. [.5 min video]

Related coverage in The Minnesota Star Tribune: Along the northern border, towns fight to preserve friendship amid escalating trade war. As Canada and the US accelerate their clash over tariffs, places like International Falls, Minnesota, and Fort Frances, Ontario, are clinging to a longstanding kinship.

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Canada — Idaho’s top trade partner — matched Trump’s tariffs. What’s that mean here?

By Shannon Tyler
The Idaho Statesman
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States, US West

BOISE, Idaho — Tensions between the US and its second-largest trade partner — and Idaho’s top partner — boiled over last month when President Trump lashed out at Canada with a slew of new tariffs. …Canadian officials said last week that they were “targeting” products that would affect certain states as they responded with tariffs of their own. …Idaho exports more goods to its northern neighbor than it does to its next six largest markets — Taiwan, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, China and Malaysia. Agricultural and food products are the state’s top exported goods, and Canada is the biggest market for them. …Wood, paper, pulp and printing products are also on the list of items facing 50% tariffs from both sides. …Idaho imports wood and paper products from Canada more than twice the amount it exports. …Trump’s new round of tariffs is another way to target Canadian wood, which this time affects different types of plywood.

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Mississippi Senator Cochran was right on Canadian timber

By Delbert Hosemann, Mississippi’s Lieutenant Governor
The Magnolia Reporter
September 9, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

There has been significant recent conversation about Canadian tariffs on many products, more specifically timber. This matters to Mississippi because timber is one of our state’s most important agricultural and economic commodities. Over 80% of the timber in Mississippi is privately owned. In 2003, Senator Thad Cochran warned: “Canada subsidizes its lumber mills by subsidizing the cost of stumpage price for pine timber, and those mills are dumping lumber in our domestic market.” The issue remains the same today. Most of the timber in Canada is owned by their government. The various provinces set the price at the stump. Most are significantly lower than the price paid here to private landowners. …This issue continues today to be challenged in various courts. …That is why Senator Cochran was right. And we need to support a final resolution by President Trump which provides us a fair ability to compete with this valuable Mississippi commodity.

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Susan Collins says the White House has ‘underestimated’ impact of Canada tariffs

By Jessica Piper
Politico
September 8, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Susan Collins

WINDSOR, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins says the White House doesn’t understand how its trade war with Canada is affecting Maine. The five-term GOP incumbent said she has spoken with JD Vance and Jamieson Greer about the escalating tariffs, which come as Collins faces a heated reelection race in a state that has close economic ties with Canada. But the White House has shown little sign of relenting. “I think the administration has very much underestimated the impact on Maine families, on small manufacturers, on our agricultural products,” Collins said. She added that she had encouraged Vance and Greer to reopen negotiations with Canada. …The effects of the tariffs could be wide-ranging in Maine, raising costs on goods such as steel, paper and dairy products, along with road salt used for winter maintenance. Canada is Maine’s largest trade and investment partner. Roughly 40 percent of all Maine’s goods exports go to Canada.

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How a Pulp Mill Closure Could Cost Rural Alabama $7 Billion

By Ryan Dezember
The Wall Street Journal
September 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

ALABAMA — The economic loss in the region around a pulp mill that closed in Alabama this spring could reach nearly $7 billion, according to a new study circulating around Southern statehouses and D.C. The Coosa Pines mill was relatively small compared with the containerboard mills that have shuttered throughout the pine belt and left timber growers without buyers for much of their wood. Forester Tom Richardson and Larry Wall, a financial adviser, crunched the numbers to show how economic losses extend beyond the more than 250 mill workers who lost jobs. …The bulk of the monetary loss is the mills’ direct economic impact over 10 years, but they also tallied losses in a region encompassing about a million acres southeast of Birmingham from which the mill had sourced wood. …They added the impact to loggers making fewer, longer trips to more distant mills. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]

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Maine governor weighs in on relations with Canada

CBC News
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Maine Gov. Janet Mills says tariffs on lumber products have been difficult for the state’s economy to absorb. [CBC video 1.42 min]

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Maine governor says her state is ‘not the enemy’ in ongoing trade war

By Sam Farley
CBC News
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States, US East

Janet Mills

Maine’s governor says the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada is “irrational,” and that she wants it to end. Janet Mills said she’s heard the same from residents of her state. “They want the war to stop,” the Democratic governor said. …Mills said Maine and New Brunswick share close family and cultural ties, and she has respect for Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Susan Holt, along with other premiers she’s met. …“This war that the president has waged, is waging on Canada, is not our war. It’s not Maine’s war with New Brunswick or Quebec or any part of Canada,” Mills said. She said she doesn’t want Maine’s relationship with Canada to be damaged by tariffs, and she wants Canadians to know that they are “always welcome here, your products are always welcome here and that we will always be friends in my book.”

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Metsä Fibre starts lay-off negotiations for 160 workers at Joutseno pulp mill in Finland

Metsä Fibre
September 9, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

FINALND — Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, is starting change negotiations concerning potential temporary lay-offs at its Joutseno pulp mill. The negotiations will involve the entire personnel of the mill, approximately 160 people in total. “The pulp market situation remains challenging. Due to the demand outlook and the situation in the wood market, we need to prepare for adjusting pulp production for a longer period than previously anticipated,” says Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre. “For this reason, we are now compelled to initiate new change negotiations concerning potential temporary lay-offs at Joutseno.“ The change negotiations will begin in week 37. [END]

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Australian gov’t commits $150M to boost forestry manufacturing

By Kate B.
Australian Manufacturing
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

The Australian Government has announced a $150 million investment to support forestry industry growth, including funding aimed at transforming wood-product manufacturing and expanding domestic processing capabilities. Announced on 3 September, the funding will be delivered through five streams under the Forestry Growth Fund, with up to $85 million earmarked for large-scale investments in modern wood-product processing, value-adding and facilities designed to significantly transform manufacturing capabilities. A further $30 million will support innovation aimed at improving efficiency and productivity across the forestry supply chain, while up to $15 million will be allocated to workforce development. The government will also provide up to $15 million in additional support for plantation establishment to increase the supply of domestic forest resources for Australia’s manufacturing and construction needs. Another $5 million will fund tools to support compliance with illegal logging laws and reduce the risk of illegally logged or conflict timber entering supply chains.

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Fibre Excellence nationalization proposal rejected by French government

SudOuest.fr with AFP
September 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

FRANCE — The French government has rejected a proposal to temporarily nationalize Fibre Excellence’s Saint-Gaudens pulp mill as efforts continue to find a buyer for the financially troubled facility. Industry Minister Sébastien Martin said nationalization was not the most appropriate solution, dismissing a request from Occitanie regional president Carole Delga for the state to take a temporary stake in the mill. The region has sought €15 million from the French government to help keep the operation viable while an industrial partnership is assembled. Alsace-based building materials company Soprema has been recruited through the regional investment agency to help form a consortium to restart the Saint-Gaudens mill. Fibre Excellence, owned by Indonesian businessman Jackson Wijaya, entered judicial restructuring in April. The Toulouse Commercial Court has granted additional time to find a solution for Saint-Gaudens, while Fibre Excellence’s Tarascon mill is headed for liquidation. [original story in French, translation by AI]

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Australia clears Kimberly-Clark’s acquisition of Kenvue but requires Carefree, Stayfree divestment

Reuters
September 1, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

Australia’s competition regulator on Wednesday approved Kimberly-Clark’s proposed $40 billion takeover of Kenvue, ​on condition the company divests Kenvue’s Carefree ‌and Stayfree period care brands in the country to address competition concerns. The ​Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said ​the period care brands should be divested ⁠to an approved purchaser. The regulator said ​without the divestment, the deal could lessen competition ​in period care products supply, with both companies being two of the three major suppliers of ​period care products in Australia. The deal, announced ​in November, would allow Kimberly-Clark to bring in Kenvue’s ‌famous ⁠global brands such as Listerine mouthwash and Neutrogena, but would expose the company to lawsuits Kenvue faces over Tylenol. …”The divestiture will preserve an ​independent ⁠competitor in the supply of period care products in Australia,” ACCC Commissioner Philip Williams said.

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Canada’s trade war with the US won’t end with tariffs

By J.D. Waverley, former member, UK House of Lords
The Hill
September 9, 2026
Category: Business & Politics

Lord J.D. Waverley

America’s global trade war is entering a more dangerous phase. Canada’s counter-tariffs target roughly $27.6 billion of American goods. Ottawa has conspicuously left energy and other strategically important commodities off the table. Decision-makers in Washington may perceive that restraint as an affirmation of America holding a stronger position. The other possibility is that Canada is saving a card it would rather not play just yet. …A pressing issue for Washington is how to secure supplies from sources considered politically and strategically acceptable, alongside the challenge of building domestic processing infrastructure [for minerals like nickel and copper]. …Ottawa would not need to impose an outright embargo to cause problems — the credible prospect of disruption could be enough to force American buyers into the market for alternative supply, pushing them into competition for available material. ..The vulnerability is Washington’s assumption that Canadian mineral supply can always be replaced by buying the same commodity somewhere else.

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Finance & Economics

U.S.–Canada tariff war puts pulp and tissue supply chains under pressure

METissue
September 9, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

U.S. 50% duties on covered Canadian pulp and paper products meet Canada’s new tariffs of up to 50% on U.S. tissue, paper and dissolving pulp. …The flashpoint for pulp and paper came after the U.S. imposed additional duties under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 on covered Canadian goods, with the measures taking effect Aug. 22. Among the affected products are: Chemical bleached softwood pulp, including NBSK, a key strength fiber used in U.S. tissue and towel production, and Toilet or facial tissue stock” and other specified household and sanitary paper products used by U.S. converters. …The tariff shock is also affecting corporate planning. …The broader concern for tissue manufacturers is the potential combination of higher fiber costs, changing sourcing strategies and pressure on margins. …Competitive pressure could limit how much of the increase is passed through immediately, but prolonged tariffs could eventually put pressure on manufacturing costs, tissue prices and product economics.

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Lumber Futures Hits Nine-Month Low

Trading Economics
September 8, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Lumber futures fell below $555 per thousand board feet, reaching its lowest level in nine months, as retaliatory tariffs from Canada on US goods took effect, weighing down demand. Ottawa had announced counter-tariffs of 25% on US lumber and 50% on Plywood following US tariffs on several lumber-related goods. US forestry groups have long accused Canada of distorting the market, as 94% of Canadian forestland is publicly owned compared to 58% privately owned in the US, allowing Canadian lumber to be sold at a lower price. The fallout is hitting the forest sector of both countries, as selling lumber prices went up immediately after the news, pushing demand lower. Fall is usually a time for renovations, however, elevated prices weighs on the sector. Meanwhile, US housing remains subdued, with lumber-intensive single-family construction spending falling 3.2% in July, while elevated mortgage rates continue to weigh on homeownership.

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Canada July trade surplus shrinks, US exports drop

By Promit Mukherjee
Reuters
September 3, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

OTTAWA — Canada’s trade surplus narrowed sharply in July as exports of energy and metal products shrank ‌while imports rose, just weeks before Washington’s new 50% tariffs begin to show up in statistics. The trade surplus was C$769 million (US$557 million), compared with a four-year high surplus of C$4.2 billion posted a month ago, Statistics Canada said. Exports dropped 2.3%, while imports increased 2.2%. Amid an escalating trade dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Canada has been seeking ​to reduce its dependence on its neighbour and largest trading partner. The U.S. accounted for 66.35% of Canada’s total ⁠exports in July, down from 69.39% in June and 72.64% a year ago. However, Canada’s import dependence on the U.S. has only narrowed to ​59% in the last 12 months compared with 62% in 2024. However, Washington’s latest duties, imposed last month, will provide a tougher test for exporters in the coming months.

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U.S. CUSMA exit would be ‘severe but not cataclysmic’ for Canada: Deloitte report

By Lauren Krugel
The Canadian Press in Business in Vancouver
September 3, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Boosting trade with a more diverse array of international partners would only plug part of the hole in Canada’s economy if the U.S. were to withdraw from the North American trade pact, says a new Deloitte Canada report. So Canada must look at measures beyond trade diversification to help make up the difference, such as removing interprovincial trade barriers and fostering new industries, wrote the authors of “Tariffs: A Rough Road Leads to New Destinations,” released Thursday. It lays out a best- and worst-case scenario for the domestic economy amid the cross-border trade maelstrom. …The worst scenario would be the dissolution of CUSMA, which the report’s authors call “a possibility that cannot be dismissed.” The U.S. accounted for about 70 per cent of Canada’s exports in 2025. If that were to happen, Canada’s real gross domestic product would fall by 1.6 per cent, or $402 billion, over the next decade. 

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Inflation risks rise with higher fuel costs and new U.S. tariffs, Bank of Canada governor warns

By Jeff Lagerquist
CBC News
September 2, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says inflation risk is on the rise, with higher energy costs topping Canada’s incoming dollar-for-dollar tariffs on U.S. goods as the biggest potential driver of rising prices for consumers and businesses. Macklem’s remarks on Wednesday came after Canada’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.25 per cent, as widely expected by economists. The central bank lowered its policy rate to its current level in October of last year. This latest announcement marks seven consecutive times it has left its trend-setting policy rate unchanged. “The counter-tariffs, and indeed the U.S. tariffs … will add costs for some businesses,” Macklem told reporters in Ottawa. “These tariffs are very steep, but they are applied to a relatively narrow base.”The bigger issue, he said, is the war in the Middle East.

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Canada gains share in U.S. softwood lumber imports in Q2 2026

The Lesprom Network
September 3, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States, International

The ten largest softwood lumber import markets imported 16.6 million m3 in April-June 2026. Canada increased its share of U.S. softwood lumber imports by 6 pp, while Germany lost 3 pp of U.S. softwood lumber imports, according to Lesprom Analytics. The ten largest suppliers shipped 15.0 million m3 and held 90% of imports across the ten largest import markets. Canada gained 2 pp of Chinese softwood lumber imports. In the United Kingdom, Germany gained 4 pp and Finland lost 3 pp of U.K. softwood lumber imports. Russia shipped 474 thousand m3 less across the ten largest import markets, followed by Germany at 428 thousand m3 less and Austria at 370 thousand m3 less. In the first half of 2026, the ten largest import markets imported 34.7 million m3. Canada shipped 1.8 million m3 less and Russia shipped 1.2 million m3 less than in the first half of 2025.

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Canada’s housing market seems to be finally taking steps toward recovery in 2026

By Robert Hogue, Assistant Chief Economist
RBC Economics
September 1, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Canadian home resales have been on a winning streak since April, inventory has levelled off, and prices appear to be stabilizing or at least falling more slowly. We see room for further gradual progress ahead as improved affordability and brightening job prospects shore up confidence, increasingly unlocking pent-up demand and slowly draining piled up inventory. But, the path is unlikely to be smooth or uniform across the country. The prolonged market correction in Ontario and BC will take time to heal. And, more resilient regions have little upside left amid stable or rising interest rates and stagnant population growth. …We project home resales and the benchmark price index to fall -3.6% to 453,200 units and -2.3% to $794,200, respectively, this year mainly reflecting weakness this winter and early spring. Recovery will become more visible by 2027 when we forecast transactions to grow 6.7% to 483,600 units, and the benchmark value edges higher by 0.8% to $800,700.

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B.C. Unemployment Climbes to 6.5% as Forestry, Construction and Education Shed Jobs

By Julie Bergeron
By Business Examiner
September 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Statistics Canada’s August Labour Force Survey showed British Columbia shed a net 5,500 positions last month, lifting the provincial unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent from 6.2 per cent in July. The result places B.C. 0.1 percentage points above the national average, even as Canada as a whole lost a net 42,000 jobs during the same period. Bryan Yu, chief economist at Central 1 Credit Union, attributed the losses to two sustained pressures: a prolonged absence of meaningful private-sector investment growth and a shrinking population as temporary residents depart following federal immigration policy changes. Educational services accounted for the steepest single-sector decline, with roughly 6,300 positions lost. …Construction and retail and wholesale trade each recorded significant losses as well, with the latter shedding approximately 3,800 jobs. …Natural resources lost 2,600 jobs provincially and continued to record the largest year-over-year contraction at 17.2%, driven by mill closures and curtailments across the province.

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To build in America, developers need to navigate the trade war

By Irene Galea
The Globe and Mail
September 7, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. — West of the US Capitol Building, all that remains of a 50,000-seat football stadium are a few old signs and a dusty field full of gravel. …The site is now awaiting a new, US$3.7-billion stadium due for completion in 2030, with the surrounding parking lots later to be transformed into 5,500 housing units, commercial spaces and a new road system. But to give the NFL’s Washington Commanders a new home, the stadium’s developers will need to navigate a difficult construction environment that has slowed building across the US, one marked by rising material costs linked to tariffs, as well as fluctuating oil prices and a tight labour market. …“Just recently, we added a clause to our contracts about escalation of material costs,” said Justin Holtzman of Artisanal Builders, a general contractor, which works in Virginia and Washington. …Given the trade war with Canada, “we have to protect against that risk.” [Full story access requires a Globe and Mail subscription]

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U.S. Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August

By Jing Fu
NAHB Eye on Housing
September 4, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The U.S. labor market rebounded in August, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 162,000 and upward revisions adding 55,000 jobs to June and July. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, as both employment and the labor force participation rate rose over the month. August’s gain leaves just five outright monthly declines in payrolls over the past year and a half, with the most recent occurring in February. While the strength reported for the labor market is positive, today’s data increases the probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike in the near future. Wage growth continued to cool, with average hourly earnings rising 3.1% year over year in August, down from 3.2% in July and marking the slowest pace of 2026. Average hourly earnings reached $37.75. Meanwhile, a recent sharp increase in energy and gasoline prices, driven by conflicts in the Middle East, has pushed inflation higher even as wage growth has slowed.

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US Mortgage Rates Climb as Global Forces Push Yields Higher

By Catherine Koh
NAHB Eye on Housing
September 3, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Mortgage rates increased in August as Treasury yields remained elevated amid persistent inflation concerns. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.67% in August, up 13 basis points (bps) over July. Since the conflict in the Middle East began, the 30-year mortgage rate has jumped by more than 60 bps. The average 15-year rate averaged 5.98% in July, up 7 bps from July and 55 bps from the end of February. Mortgage rates are now roughly on par with their levels a year ago, with the 30-year rate 6 bps higher and the 15-year rate 24 bps higher. The 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark for long-term borrowing, rose 10 bps to an average of 4.68% in August, Yields rose in the later part of the month amid a broader selloff in global government bonds. 

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Lending Climate Survey Finds Growing Lender Caution Amid Rising Economic and Geopolitical Risks

J.S. Held
September 3, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

NEW YORK — Global consulting firm J.S. Held today published the results of its Q3 2026 Lending Climate in America survey, offering insight into how US lenders are assessing economic conditions, credit risk, borrower activity, and market expectations. The latest findings point to a lending environment marked by growing caution. Concerns regarding geopolitical instability, recession risk, and policy uncertainty remain elevated, while lender expectations for both near-term and longer-term economic performance have weakened. Despite this more guarded outlook, borrowers continue to pursue investment and expansion initiatives, highlighting a notable disconnect between lender sentiment and borrower activity. …Lenders Grow More Cautious About the Economic Outlook. …Geopolitical and Recession Concerns Continue to Shape Decision-Making. …Borrowers Continue Investing Despite Greater Economic Uncertainty. …Underwriting Remains Selective as Risk Management Takes Priority.

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US Private Residential Construction Spending Continues to Weaken

By Catherine Koh
NAHB Eye on Housing
September 2, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Private residential construction spending fell further in July, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending stood at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $859.0 billion in July, down 1.3% from the revised June estimate and down 7.3% from a year earlier. The July decrease was driven entirely by the single-family construction, the only residential category to post a monthly decrease. Single-family construction spending fell 3.2%, consistent with the continued weakness in builder sentiment reflected in the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). On a yearly basis, single-family spending was down 6.5%. Multifamily construction spending edged up by 0.2% from June but remained 0.9% below the previous year. Spending on improvement (remodeling) also saw a modest increase of 0.3% over the month but declined 10.2% over the year. 

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US construction spending fell 0.5% in July, down 3.8% from a year ago

The US Census Bureau
September 1, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Construction spending during July 2026 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,157.6 billion, 0.5 percent below the revised June estimate of $2,167.7 billion. The July figure is 3.8 percent below the July 2025 estimate of $2,242.6 billion. During the first seven months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,244.6 billion, 3.5 percent below the $1,289.7 billion for the same period in 2025. …Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,614.2 billion, 0.5 percent below the revised June estimate of $1,622.9 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $859.0 billion in July, 1.3 percent below the revised June estimate of $870.6 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $755.2 billion in July, 0.4 percent above the revised June estimate of $752.4 billion.

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New York construction industry could be hit hardest as Canadian U.S. trade war continues

By Emma Quinn
CNYCentral.com
August 31, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US East

CAPITAL REGION, New York — Starting next week, Canadian retaliatory tariffs are taking effect. The tariffs are up to 50% on American products. The tariffs are projected to impact $20 billion worth of American goods; materials like lumber, steel, and dairy could be the hardest hit. We see data coming out of the Fed that shows that 90% of the costs of tariffs are passed along to, you know, U.S. businesses and consumers,” said Justin Wilcox, of Upstate United. “That’s having an impact on people’s pocketbooks at a time when they can least afford it.” …The National Association of Home Builders predicts a $10,000 to $14,000 increase per home. …According to an April 2026 report from the New York State Comptroller, Canada is the state’s most significant trading partner. In 2025, exports to Canada declined by $3.8 billion due to tariffs.

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Eurozone inflation heats up

Numera Analytics
September 1, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: International

Click to Enlarge

Eurozone inflation climbed to 3.3% YoY in August from 2.9% in July, according to Eurostat’s preliminary estimate this morning. The reading was the highest since September 2023 and moved inflation further above the ECB’s 2% target. The acceleration largely reflected surging energy prices resulting from the continuing conflict in the Middle East. This renewed pressure makes a September rate hike increasingly likely. …Beyond September, however, our view diverges from market pricing: we expect the ECB to remain on hold for an extended period, as energy prices are more likely to retreat than to generate a lasting second-round inflation shock. Even after two rate increases, Eurozone monetary conditions should remain relatively supportive. Together with Germany’s substantial fiscal expansion, this should help sustain the regional recovery. Following the stronger-than-expected Q2 GDP result, we raised our Eurozone growth forecasts to 0.9% for 2026 and 1.2% for 2027.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

BlueLinx and Trex® Announce New Distribution Relationship

Bluelinx Holdings Inc.
September 3, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

ATLANTA — BlueLinx Holdings, a U.S. wholesale distributor of building products, announced a strategic distribution partnership with Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and residential railing and the leading brand in composite decking. BlueLinx will distribute Trex decking and railing products across a broad service territory supported by its distribution centers in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Erwin, Nashville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Gulfport, Little Rock and Monroe. …Initial product shipments are expected to begin arriving at BlueLinx locations during the first week of September, with all participating locations expected to receive their initial inventory before the end of the month.

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The Return of Wood: Mass timber, an innovation in construction, is changing architecture in Washington and beyond

By Lauren Gallow
The Seattle Times
September 5, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

SEATTLE — Architect Susan Jones says …“For most of the 20th century, the architecture community has been separated from the origins of the materials we build with”. …Jones, along with a growing chorus of architects, engineers and forestry experts in Seattle and beyond, believes building with wood is better for our cities, and for our forests. …Mass timber buildings offer a more sustainable path forward. Steel and concrete release large amounts of greenhouse gases. …Erica Spiritos at the Washington Mass Timber Accelerator, promotes mass timber construction and research in the state. The organization recently helped get mass timber recognized in Washington’s 2025 Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which sets out a road map for the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions while stimulating the economy. Today, Spiritos is focusing on the potential of mass timber for schools and is trying to make it easier for districts to use the material.

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How Mass Timber and P3 Delivery Are Shaping MSU Denver’s Summit House

By Lindsey Coulter
School Construction News
August 31, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

DENVER, Colorado — Construction recently topped out on Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Summit House, a 12-story student housing development that marks the university’s first on-campus residence hall in its 60-year history. Scheduled for completion in summer 2027, the approximately $118 million mixed-use development will provide more than 550 student beds. Located on the Auraria Campus and across from Ball Arena, the project expands affordable housing while demonstrating how mass timber construction can accelerate project delivery and enhance the student experience. When complete, Summit House will be the tallest structure on the downtown-adjacent tri-institutional campus. As the tallest mass-timber structure in the state, it will also be a showcase for the design and construction advantages of this highly renewable building material. Ryan Marshall, Superintendent for project builder PCL Construction, noted that the thoughtful use of mass timber helped accelerate construction, as many components could be fabricated off site.

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South Bend firefighters battle early morning blaze near Four Winds Field

By Leo Goldman
ABC57.com
September 8, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

SOUTH BEND, Indiana — A massive fire early this morning in downtown South Bend, bringing in a ton of resources. The flames engulfing what had already been built at Stadium Flats apartments, hours before a groundbreaking ceremony was set to take place. …Assistant fire chief Derek Erquhart said the amount of wood at the construction site helped feed the flames. “It was type 5 wood frame construction, so a lot of lumber. The heat was very intense, is what the firefighters were dealing with when they arrived, and considering the conditions on arrival… that building that was under construction essentially a loss, and our priority was protecting the structures around there,” said SBFD Assistant Chief Derek Erquhart. …Stadium Flats is owned by Real America. …The company’s president telling ABC57 he’s grateful for the first responders, and also that the building process wasn’t further along.

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The Big Question: Is timber the secret to affordable housing in Europe?

By Hannah Brown & Angela Barnes
Euronews
September 7, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

Subhra Bhattacharjee

Europe is scaling up its timber industry, but unsustainable growth could prove disastrous. According to the European Commission, the construction sector is responsible for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation. …Dr. Bhattacharjee, director general of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) joined Angela Barnes to discuss whether Europe can scale up its sustainable timber industry and achieve its construction goals. With deadlines looming and environmental policy tightening, a clear shift towards the use of timber is under way in Europe …“There need not be a quality compromise, because recent innovations in engineered wood creates stronger and more versatile structures,” Subhra explained. And Subhra is confident it’s only going to get better as innovation continues. …“What would be an ideal scenario would be low-carbon cement, recycled steel and construction timber complementing in bringing down the carbon footprint of the entire sector and contributing to low-cost housing that is needed.”

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Forestry

US and Canadian forest industry sought to weaken EU deforestation rules

By Elizabeth Schell
Mongabay.com
September 10, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

When the European Union’s new anti-deforestation law threatened to expose the environmental costs of logging in North America’s forests, the American paper industry, supported by the U.S. government, mobilized an intense lobbying effort to weaken the legislation. According to lobbying disclosures, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), have spent nearly $11 million dollars on lobbying efforts since 2023, including on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). …At stake is relations with a major trading partner. The U.S. exported $879.7 million worth of forest products to the EU in 2025, according to the USDA. It’s not just U.S. officials pushing to weaken the regulation. Canadian industry group Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and Canadian officials have also been outspoken against the rules. …More recently, FPAC and the AF&PA released a joint statement this year — along with the Australian Forest Products Association, the Japan Paper Association, and the New Zealand Forest Owners Association — requesting reduced oversight in low-deforestation-risk countries.

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BC Timber Sales holding open house on controversial Mt. Rose Swanson logging plans

By Brendan Shykora
Summerland Review
September 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) is holding an open house in Spallumcheen next week regarding its controversial proposal to harvest trees on Mount Rose Swanson, a popular recreation area in the community. The open house will take place at the Township of Spallumcheen Municipal Hall Thursday, Sept. 10. …The provincial agency that manages 20% of BC’s public timber harvest is proposing a new cut block and road development in its Rose Swanson operating area, located within the Okanagan-Shuswap natural resource districts. The planned timber licence would cover 35.7 hectares, spread over 15 smaller patches ranging from one to 4.3-ha openings. About 14,500 cubic metres of timber would be harvested, with an estimated 95 per cent of the areas’ deciduous aspen and cottonwood trees left standing. …The proposed cut block and logging road has drawn criticism since it was made public several years ago. …An online petition to halt logging on the mountain received 24,000 signatures.

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Court says hundreds of Walbran Valley trees ‘spiked’ as blockade injunction extended

By Darryl Greer
The Canadian Press in CTV News
September 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Hundreds of trees have been found embedded with metal spikes in Vancouver Island’s upper Walbran Valley, according to a court ruling that extends an injunction against a logging blockade there until early 2028. The BC Supreme Court court ruling says the blockade activity has included vandalism of logging equipment and tree-spiking incidents, in which two fallers had their chainsaws damaged beyond repair when they struck spikes on Aug. 18. Last Friday’s ruling says the loggers weren’t injured, but tree spikes carry “significant risk of injury or death”. Investigations found several hundred trees in Tsawak‑Qin Forestry’s cutblocks had been embedded with spikes, many with their heads cut off and bark placed over the top. …Tsawak‑Qin Forestry’s activities in the upper Walbran Valley have been disrupted by protesters opposed to old-growth logging since August 2025. Justice H. William Veenstra’s ruling says “the new evidence establishes that there continues to be irreparable harm suffered by Tsawak-Qin”.

Related coverage in: Chek News, by Liz Brown: Injunction to prevent logging protests at Walbran Valley extended to January 2028

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American Hardwood Industry Stands Ready to Tackle EU Deforestation Regulation

By Ben Stanley
RISI Fastmarkets
September 9, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, International

After a long journey towards implementation, the controversial European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will become law on December 30, 2026, for large operators in the EU, and on June 30, 2027, for smaller operators. When it finally does, the likes of White Oak, Red Oak, Ash, and Walnut from the US will continue flowing into the European market without major hold-ups, thanks largely to the latest tweaks made to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)’s free compliance platform. “I’m very confident in saying that we are 100 percent EUDR compliant,” AHEC’s Tripp Pryor told HMR/Fastmarkets about the American Hardwood Assured (AHA) platform. …Last year saw AHEC make additional changes to ensure full compliance with the European Commission’s specifications around geo-coordinates and harvest sourcing. …Recent tweaks have incorporated preparatory AI to upload US Forest Service data and identify individual harvest sites within counties. “This is a natural fit for using an AI system,” Pryor said.

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Trump Urged to Strong-Arm European Union over EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR)

By Jason Ross
Wood Central Australia
September 9, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, International

Donald Trump is being pushed to use the new EU-US trade deal to axe plot-by-plot traceability for American forest products, the rule Europe’s deforestation regulation keeps on every US shipment from 30 December even with the country rated low risk. That is according to a new letter, addressed to the President and copied to Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, which more than 1,000 members of “the American forestry community” signed on 26 August. …“We ask that you press the EU to fully recognize the United States as a low-risk country based on our proven record of forest stewardship,” the letter states, underlined in the original, before asking him to demand “the removal or substantial revision” of compliance requirements it calls unnecessary and burdensome. The opening it names is the European Parliament’s final vote on 16 June for the agreement struck at Turnberry last July, whose framework commits the EU to “work to address the concerns of US producers and exporters”.

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Judge halts Washington forest buffer rule for timberlands

By Don Jenkins
The Capital Press
September 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

A Thurston County, Washington, judge stayed a rule requiring larger riparian buffers on Western Washington timberland, putting on hold a regulation that would take 200,000 acres out of production. Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller on Sept. 3 granted a motion by two timber groups to stay the rule while they challenged the bigger buffers in the Court of Appeals Division II. The timber groups argue the expanded buffers will have negligible environmental benefits, while causing financial hardship to timberland owners and rural economies. …Schaller in August upheld the bigger buffers, saying she found no grounds to overrule the Forest Practices Board. The judge, however, acknowledged that the larger buffers will cause financial hardship and that the appeals court will review her decision. …The board adopted the bigger buffers in a 7-5 vote last year. The Washington Forest Protection Association and Washington Farm Forestry Association are challenging the buffers.

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Incarcerated people among thousands of firefighters battling Oregon’s aggressive fire season

By April Ehrlich
Oregon Public Broadcasting
September 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

In Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest, a group of incarcerated men gathered around an instructor warning them about the dangers of an over-pressurized firefighting hose. …Such were the risks that these men were willing to take to avoid sleeping in a prison cell. “It’s dangerous, but that’s why we train, and we train hard,” said Jason Russell, a 41-year-old from Salem incarcerated at the South Fork Forest Camp, a state prison. In a few weeks, many of them would be on fire lines alongside thousands of other firefighters battling what would become a record-breaking fire season in Oregon. …But while most firefighters make $25 an hour on the fire line, Oregon’s incarcerated firefighters earn $25 a day. …Inmates earn wildland firefighting certifications and gain experience, which can help with employment opportunities after their prison term ends. Oregon is one of seven states that use prison labor to fight wildfires.

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Clear‑cut logging is making floods worse. But it’s not just about how many trees are cut

By Kyle Bishop and Younes Alila
The Conversation Canada
September 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

OREGON — The 2021 floods in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley caused upwards of $14 billion in damages. Since then, communities have brought lawsuits against logging companies and the provincial government, blaming them for logging practices that made flooding worse. Over the past 50 years throughout B.C., clear-cut logging has been the primary method of timber extraction across watersheds of all sizes. Floods are happening more often and are becoming more expensive, and unlike the storms that help trigger them, clear cutting and the associated cumulative impacts are something we can manage. When watersheds are assessed for flood risk, the question often asked is a simple one: How much of the watershed has been logged? …Our new study in Oregon, which has a similar climate to coastal B.C., suggests that the proportion of a watershed that is logged is not the only factor that determines flood risk. The landscape and climate matter too.

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CEI-Bois and EOS highlight Europe’s forest-based bioeconomy challenges and opportunities

By Nairita Ghosh
Wood & Panel Europe
September 8, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

Europe’s forest-based industries are entering a critical phase as policymakers seek to accelerate the bioeconomy while forests face growing pressures from climate change, natural disturbances and rising demand for wood-based resources. Against this backdrop, CEI-Bois and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) held discussions with Sweden’s largest forest owner (Sveaskog), on the future of Europe’s woodworking, sawmilling and forest-based bioeconomy. The meeting focused on the current position and future prospects of Europe’s woodworking and sawmill industries. Discussions covered the opportunities presented by the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy, competitiveness challenges and the growing influence of EU sustainability and product-related legislation on forest-based businesses. A central message was that Europe’s bioeconomy ambitions will require a policy environment that recognises the diversity of regional forest resources and forest-based value chains. At the same time, Europe needs healthy, productive forests capable of providing raw materials while allowing industries to remain competitive.

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Australia braces for its own fire season after sweltering European summer

By Stefica Bikesh
Reuters
September 7, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

CLARENCE TOWN, Australia — Australian firefighters say they are on alert as temperatures in the southern ​hemisphere begin to pick up, following a devastating fire season ‌in Europe. Australia is already experiencing a strong El Nino weather event that typically brings with it hotter, drier weather, and an increased risk of wildfires. “We’re concerned this year ​that we’ll see increased fire risk (versus) prior years,” said Trent Curtin, ​head of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the ⁠world’s largest volunteer firefighting force.  Large parts of Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, ​endured sweltering summers, leaving vegetation tinder-dry and fuelling severe wildfires. …Australia has a ​long history of fighting wildfires, including the 2019 to 2020 Black Summer blazes that ‌destroyed ⁠an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. …“For this year we’re ​alert but not alarmed,” said Alex Capararo, a sector commander for ​the Forestry ⁠Corporation of New South Wales.

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Australia’s Forestry Standard CEO Simon Dorries steps down after 11 years at the helm

Responsible Wood
September 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

Simon Dorries

AUSTRALIA — Responsible Wood has announced that Simon Dorries will step down as CEO after more than 11 years with the organisation. Dorries joined Responsible Wood in May 2015 and has played a key role in the development and growth of the PEFC certification system in Australia. During his tenure, Responsible Wood strengthened its position as an Australian forest certification scheme and increased awareness of sustainably managed forests, as well as responsibly sourced wood and paper products. Responsible Wood chair Dr Tony Bartlett said “Simon has always been much more than simply the CEO of Responsible Wood.” Dorries represented Responsible Wood nationally and internationally, building relationships across the forest and wood products sector, government, environmental organisations and the wider PEFC network. …The board will begin recruiting Dorries’ successor, with the CEO position to be publicly advertised. During the transition, Responsible Wood sustainability manager Matt de Jong will serve as acting CEO.

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New Zealand Members Vote for Unified FSC Governance with Australia

Forest Stewardship Council Aus NZ
August 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

A new chapter for FSC in New Zealand is taking shape, with New Zealand-based members unanimously voting to join Australia under a shared Australia and New Zealand’s (FSC ANZ) governance model. This decision marks an important milestone for FSC across the region, solidifying a formal role for New Zealand-based members in FSC Australia and New Zealand’s governance and laying a stronger foundation for expanding FSC’s work, engagement, and impact in New Zealand. …New Zealand-based directors will be added to the FSC ANZ Board at the next Annual General Meeting to strengthen New Zealand’s representation and voice across the organisation’s Environmental, Social and Economic chambers. …FSC ANZ is planning to establish a dedicated presence in New Zealand, adding a new team member based in the country to work closely with members, certificate holders and stakeholders on the ground. …For FSC, New Zealand is a crucial part of the organisation’s future.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

The trade war could sideline climate or become an opportunity

The National Observer
September 8, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

As Canada confronts a trade war with the US, climate action risks becoming collateral damage. But the same economic shock could also allow Canada an opportunity to rethink its energy future. This tension was at the centre of Canada’s National Observer’s newest conversation hosted by Linda Solomon and David McKie. …The trade dispute is already hitting major Canadian industries, Snieckus said, pointing to steel, forestry and automotive manufacturing, as well as thousands of small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, Canada has considerable leverage because of the resources our neighbours rely on. But the discussion repeatedly returned to a bigger question: where does climate action fit when economic sovereignty becomes the immediate priority? Max Fawcett argued protecting Canadian sovereignty has to come first because climate policy itself depends on it. …Darius Snieckus said the trade war could become an “industrial policy shock” that ultimately leaves Canada more economically diversified and energy secure.

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Canadians should prepare for a 5 C hotter future, report warns

By David Thurton
CBC News
September 3, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Canadians will have to prepare for a future that’s 5 C hotter, according to a new report summarizing the latest science on climate change. The second edition of Canada’s Changing Climate Report, a synthesis of the science on the impact of a warming planet on Canadians, confirms with greater confidence that burning fossil fuels are responsible for climate change. The report assess what Canada would look like under different scenarios depending on whether countries fulfil their climate commitments. …The report finds that if global governments keep pursuing their current climate policies, Canada… is projected to warm through this century with an estimated temperature increase of 5 C. In Nunavut, warming in winter could exceed 10 C. If the world, however, dramatically reduces GHGs and achieves net-zero around 2075, Canada’s climate is projected to stabilize and average warming would increase by 3.5 C. …Canada’s environment minister said Canada remains committed to reducing its emissions and achieving net-zero by 2050.

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Feds say their climate law is unenforceable

The Edmonton Sun
September 1, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Mark Carney government is arguing in court that the signature piece of Justin Trudeau’s climate action plan — the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act — is unenforceable. Also, that it’s not the job of the courts to rule on federal climate policy. That may come as a shock to Canadians who remember the Trudeau government crowing when the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Trudeau’s carbon pricing law was constitutional, after it was challenged by Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan as an intrusion into provincial authority. But that was then, and this is now. CBC reports that a group of environmental activists are asking the federal court to compel the government to update its 2030 emission targets, which are no longer realistic, or declare the current plan is a violation of the act. The government argues its net zero law only says the government may decide to amend its emission targets, but does not require it.

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University of Georgia Study Finds Rural Views of Forest Bioenergy Shaped by Politics, Trust

By Beth Anton
Renewable Energy Magazine
September 2, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, US East

GEORGIA — A peer-reviewed University of Georgia study has found that rural forest landowners in the southeastern United States do not assess wood-based bioenergy or climate change solely through economic considerations. Their views are shaped by political beliefs, cultural values, personal experience, trust in markets and perceptions of local communities, the researchers reported in 2025. The study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, examined how forest landowners and other stakeholders connect — or do not connect — climate change with the development of energy produced from woody biomass. The findings are significant because landowners’ willingness to supply forest materials is important to the operation and expansion of bioenergy facilities. “Neither bioenergy nor climate change is an isolated issue, but rather they are embedded within a matrix of cultural values, political ideologies, and personal lived experiences,” the researchers wrote.

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As forest loss accelerates, can the world meet the rising demand for wood?

By Angeli Mehta, Ethical Corporation Magazine
Reuters
September 9, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: International

With the impacts of climate change being felt across the globe, forests are under pressure as never before. While agriculture is the main driver of permanent deforestation, wildfires contributed 30% of tree cover loss and logging accounted for a 25% loss, according to WRI. This loss may be temporary, but forests can take decades to recover and may never return to full health. …Five years after countries pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, there has been scant progress. And demand for timber, which is expected to grow 37% by 2050, could rise even higher if more wood is used for construction – a climate solution to replace high-carbon steel and cement. The most ambitious regulatory solution on offer is the EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR), which will come into effect at the end of this year. …Supply chain leakage risks pushing illegal timber into less regulated markets. …Just 11% of timber firms can prove 90% of sourcing is deforestation-free.

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Health & Safety

Records reveal complaints before deadly Washington pulp mill disaster

By Martha Bellisle
The Seattle Times
September 5, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States, US West

A Longview pulp mill where 11 workers died after a chemical tank collapsed in May had a history of safety complaints, poor maintenance and discharges of toxic chemicals, records reviewed by The Associated Press show. …The AP reviewed government records involving inspections and safety complaints at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview. Before the accident, the state Department of Ecology had issued 54 environmental violation notices against the company since 2016 and fined it $41,500 for eight serious violations. The state Department of Labor and Industries investigated more than a dozen safety complaints at the plant since 2018 and issued almost $7,000 in fines for violations. Its investigation into the tank collapse is ongoing, and it has opened two new investigations since May. …The multiple equipment failures and safety violations are a “red flag” for this company, said Stephen Kmiotek, a chemical engineering professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. [to access the full story a Seattle Times subscription is required]

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Workplace safety expert reacts to federal report on Nippon

By Nick Morgan
The Tri-City Herald
September 2, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States, US West

LONGVIEW, Washington — While one workplace safety expert has described the early results of a federal investigation into the Longview chemical spill as “disappointing and upsetting,” Nippon Dynawave Packaging officials are relaying their own frustration about the update. …Marissa Baker, who leads the University of Washington’s Industrial Hygiene program in Seattle, highlighted the repeated warnings from an inspecting contractor in the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s investigation update issued Friday. They indicate to her that the fatal May 26 collapse of the white liquor tank at the Longview liquid packaging paperboard plant could have been prevented. …According to Nippon Dynawave Packaging, the CSB’s initial investigation update “failed to include important facts and context” about the 10 months leading up to the catastrophic collapse. …”Certainly it likely contributed,” Baker said. “And the price the company paid for putting off that maintenance and deferring the maintenance was the 11 workers.”

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Maine wood pulp mill contests $794K in OSHA penalties tied to deaths of two workers

WAGM TV Maine
September 2, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States, US East

BAILEYVILLE, Maine — The owners of a Maine pulp mill are contesting federal workplace safety citations and nearly $800,000 in proposed penalties issued after an investigation into a toxic gas release that killed two workers in Baileyville. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says workers at Woodland Pulp were performing a cold weather shutdown, which caused high concentrations of deadly, uncontrolled, hydrogen sulfide gas to release into the plant on January 27. …OSHA issued four willful citations and six serious citations for the January incident. An additional six serious citations were issued. The company was also ordered to pay $612,392 in fines for that incident. …The fines for the March infractions came to $182,064. The case is now in litigation before the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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