Should B.C. retaliate against U.S. duties on softwood lumber with a levy on U.S. coal moving through B.C. ports?

Castanet
October 14, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Ward Stamer

British Columbia’s Opposition Leader John Rustad and forestry critic Ward Stamer say B.C. should “get tougher” to fight back against increasing U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. …In a joint statement, Rustad and Stamer said the forestry sector has been in decline for eights years under the NDP and the province could be doing more in B.C. to make more wood available, fix the cost structure and “put the feet back under” the sector. The MLAs said the province needs to “get tougher” to deal with Trump, starting with a levy on U.S. thermal coal that moves through B.C. ports. “If that’s not enough, those shipments should be outright banned to put real pressure on the U.S. and bring them to the table,” the statement reads. Stamer said the new tariffs will be “the final blow” to forestry workers and communities that have been “paying the price” for years.

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