OTTAWA — The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, said “in response to a formal request from the Canadian Wood Products Alliance, the government has directed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to conduct an inquiry on global imports of solid and engineered wood cabinets and vanities, solid and engineered hardwood flooring, and engineered wood storage furniture. The Tribunal will have 270 days to determine if increased imports of these products are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to Canadian wood product manufacturers, and to make recommendations to the government on appropriate remedies.”… “If the Tribunal finds that safeguard measures are warranted, the government will take appropriate action, in accordance with international trade rules.”
- Related coverage by Mark Rendell in the Globe & Mail: The Canadian Wood Products Alliance is pushing for safeguard tariffs of up to 100 per cent
The Trump administration has begun processing refunds for billions of dollars in tariffs that the US Supreme Court struck down in February. In what is to be the biggest repayment programme in history, companies can apply online for money they were charged under the “Liberation Day” tariffs – plus interest – to be returned. …But individual consumers, who were hit by the tariffs indirectly through higher prices, are not expected to be compensated. …”All importers of record whose entries were subject to IEEPA duties are entitled to the benefit” from the high court’s ruling, Judge Richard Eaton wrote. As of early April, more than 56,000 importers had completed the necessary steps to apply for refunds online when the portal opened, with their claims worth $127bn. The portal, known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (Cape), went live on Monday. 
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Carney has 
Canada-United States Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the government wants to resolve trade frictions with the Trump administration as part of a comprehensive agreement, rather than through “one-off” deals. LeBlanc said the irritants U.S. officials raise privately are the same ones they’ve outlined publicly. A recent report by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s office flagged Canada’s supply-managed dairy system, regulations affecting major US technology firms and other long-standing trade concerns. “If we’re going to resolve some of these issues that Ambassador Greer referred to, Canada is ready and willing to do that work,” LeBlanc said. But he said any progress must come as part of a “larger agreement” that would ease pressure on tariff-affected sectors of Canada’s economy and provide greater certainty around the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement review process. The minister’s comments shine a light on the strategic considerations of the US, Canada and Mexico in the trade discussions.
OTTAWA — Ottawa’s temporary suspension of some fuel taxes kicks in today, with Canadians likely to save 10 cents per litre on regular gasoline, and four cents on a litre of diesel. Prime Minister Mark Carney had announced last week a pause on those fuel excise taxes up until Labour Day. The Liberals say this is a prudent way to tame prices at the pumps, at a cost of roughly $2.4 billion. The Conservatives argue this isn’t enough to meet rising energy costs, calling for the pause to extend to the end of the year, as well as an end to clean-fuel standards and the industrial carbon tax. U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to wage a war against Iran alongside Israel has sent global energy costs surging, with Tehran and later Washington constraining certain shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.
Canadian softwood producers have now paid more than US$8-billion in US duties since 2017, as BC’s Forests Minister seeks to keep lumber on Ottawa’s radar to resolve the trade dispute. The issue of Canadian softwood shipments into the US is not directly addressed by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. …About US$2-billion in interest has gradually piled up over the past nine years, bringing the value of duties paid plus interest to more than US$10-billion. …Last week, the US said it plans to decrease duties for Canadian softwood. …The revised anti-dumping and countervailing duties equal 24.83%, and when combined with the tariffs, the levies would total 34.83%. …Canfor would see its total levies decline to 31.02%, down from the current 47.59%. West Fraser’s duties would decrease to 20.70%, compared with the current 26.47%. The duty rate for Resolute FP, a subsidiary of Domtar, would drop to 24.95% from the current 35.16%. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]
TORONTO – Worried about wildfires sending claims soaring this year, Canada’s property and casualty insurers are pushing owners to flood- and fire-proof homes and urging the government to take climate issues more seriously despite economic turmoil. Insurers Intact Financial, TD Insurance, Wawanesa and Definity Financial face financial pressure as claims surge and in turn push up home-insurance premiums, which rose about 6% last year in Canada. They worry Prime Minister Mark Carney’s prioritization of energy and the economy over risks from climate change could contribute to more wildfire- and flood-related damage over time. Canada has seen record wildfire and flood damage in recent years. But calamity-prone regions are still insurable in Canada, unlike in some other countries where companies will not insure houses for wildfires. This year is expected to be among the hottest years on record.
OTTAWA — The Canada Border Services Agency has launched a probe to determine if plywood is being subsidized or sold at unfair prices in Canada. A news release from the agency says the investigation began on April 10 and focuses on imports from producers operating in or exporting from China. It says the practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting Canadian prices and undermining fair competition. The investigation comes after a complaint was filed by Columbia Forest Products and the Canadian Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association, which say they’ve faced lost sales, poor financial results and reduced employment. The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal are both involved in investigations of Chinese plywood. The tribunal will issue its decision by June 9, while the CBSA’s probe into unfair prices will reach a preliminary decision by July 9.
SALMON ARM, British Columbia — Forsite Consultants Ltd. today announced the launch of 
NANAIMO, BC — The debate over a contentious rezoning proposal came to a head Thursday night at Nanaimo council, with what may have been a record crowd for the public hearing. …At stake, Nanaimo Forest Products, which owns Harmac Pacific, wants to rezone roughly 72 hectares of land to heavy industrial. Harmac Pacific’s CEO said “Nanaimo is desperately short of industrial land and council initiated this process when approving the official community plan in 2022. …Paul Sadler, CEO and the General Manger of Harmac Pacific said the company wants to maintain ownership and choose businesses that are complementary to its own such as sawmills or companies that “can take advantage of its green energy supply” …The company, in discussions with Nanaimo City Council, has agreed to an average 100 meter buffer from the park. …But the majority of speakers were opposed. …The Snuneymuxw First Nation also has serious reservations. …The hearing continues April 22.
Vancouver, BC — DWB Consulting Services Ltd. and Chartwell Resource Group Ltd. today announced they are moving forward under a new unified name: Kintera. This rebrand marks a significant milestone in the merger of the two firms, reflecting their shared vision and the next step in their evolution as a single, integrated organization. For decades, DWB and Chartwell have built strong reputations in British Columbia’s natural resource sector—known for making complex challenges understandable and delivering practical, meaningful solutions. Since merging in August 2025, the combined organization has continued to build on that foundation, strengthening its technical capabilities and expanding its service offering. The transition to Kintera reinforces this momentum, positioning the company to deliver enhanced expertise, greater capacity, and increased value to clients across the sectors it serves. Clients can expect the same high level of service, responsiveness, and trusted relationships that have defined both organizations.
North Vancouver, B.C. — Seaspan Marine announced an agreement with Hodder Tugboat Co. Ltd. to sell its legacy chip and hog fuel barge division, and remaining forestry industry transportation assets, subject to closing conditions. The transaction, which is described as a “turnkey,” is inclusive of the workforce, existing services and related assets, like coastal tugs, river tugs and barges, and associated maintenance facilities — customers who rely on this vital service remain unaffected. Hodder is an established marine towing company based in Richmond with a longstanding focus on the forest industry, including the transportation of logs, timber and related forestry products. The sale aligns with the expert skillsets of the existing Seaspan team and assets in operation. The acquisition of Seaspan’s chip and hog barge division is a natural extension of that expertise, reinforcing Hodder’s commitment to service for its coastal clients.
From fibre performance to global demand, three speakers at International Pulp Week offer a compelling view of the forces shaping today’s pulp sector. Finland’s Ismo Nousiainen and Aki Temmes bring deep, mill level expertise in softwood performance and fibre strategy, while Canada’s Mathieu Wener connects those decisions to evolving global markets and economic trends. Together, their sessions trace a clear arc, from how fibre characteristics influence tissue quality and energy efficiency, to how papermakers are optimizing furnishes under cost and supply pressures, and ultimately to how demand is shifting across tissue, paper, and specialty grades. It also reflects the conference’s international reach, bringing together global leaders to address shared challenges in a sector increasingly shaped by interconnected markets, trade dynamics, and long term structural change.
Kenora, Ont. – The United Steelworkers (USW) are proud to welcome 147 new members following a strong organizing victory at Weyerhaeuser in Kenora, Ont. Workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining the union with 97% support. This is a clear demonstration of their desire for a stronger voice at work and a more secure future. “This result speaks volumes,” said Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director. “Workers at Weyerhaeuser came together with shared goals – to improve their working conditions, strengthen their rights and build a better future. We are proud to stand with them as they begin this next chapter.” The organizing campaign was driven by workers coming together and building support across the workplace. …This victory reflects a growing trend of workers across the forestry sector choosing to unionize and strengthen their collective voice on the job.
BRUSSELS — The European Union’s trade surplus with the rest of the world shrank by 60 per cent in February as exports to the United States dropped by more than a quarter, with U.S. import tariffs of 15 per cent largely in place on EU goods. EU exports as a whole were 9.3 per cent lower in February than a year earlier, while imports were down 3.5 per cent, EU statistics office Eurostat said on Friday. The largest export decline was towards the U.S., with a drop of 26.4 per cent, while imports from the United States were 3.2 per cent lower. EU exports to China were also down. A year ago, EU exporters had begun front-loading shipments to the U.S. in anticipation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, inflating the export figures for early 2025 and potentially explaining February’s sharp decline. Exports to the United States in February 2025 rose by 22.4 per cent year-on-year.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities today announced a $5 million funding opportunity to connect underutilized wood fiber with new buyers, strengthen regional supply chains and keep working forests economically viable. This effort will invest up to $1 million per year over five years in organizations that can develop durable market solutions, helping keep working forests productive and rural economies strong, especially in regions facing reduced processing capacity and shifting market conditions. An additional $500,000 is available for projects in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont through a partnership with the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Forest Economy Initiative. When local wood markets weaken, the impact ripples across entire communities, affecting landowners, loggers, hauling businesses and manufacturers. Without reliable markets, it becomes harder to keep forests actively managed and economically viable. The Endowment expects to select three to five organizations by June 2026 for five-year agreements focused on practical market-building work.
