Expanded U.S. tariffs an ‘existential threat’ to B.C. forestry industry, Eby says

B.C.’s premier and forests minister were joined by industry leaders to issue an urgent plea for federal relief as new tariffs dole another blow to the industry.

B.C. Premier David Eby is calling on the federal government to support workers whose jobs are put at risk by the “unfair” and “unjustified attack” on the Canadian forestry industry by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The U.S. leader recently announced an additional 10 per cent levy on softwood lumber, bringing the total tariff on such products to 45 per cent, which Eby said at a news conference Tuesday is higher than the tariff the U.S. imposes on lumber from Russia.

“It doesn’t make any sense, and this attack has serious consequences for Canadians and for British Columbians,” he said.

The new tariffs took effect Tuesday, leaving B.C.’s forestry industry on a “knife edge,” Eby said.

The premier compared the tariffs on softwood lumber to those the Trump administration has imposed on the automotive and steel industries, which are similarly “foundational” industries in Ontario. When jobs are threatened in those industries, it’s treated as a national crisis, “and rightly so,” Eby said.

“What we’re asking for today is that that same respect, that same concern, that same sense of emergency is shared for the forest sector in this country,” the premier said.

He added that forestry is a bigger contributor to Canada’s gross domestic product than automobiles or steel, and a similar response from the federal government ought to be forthcoming.

“We are calling on Ottawa to stand with us, all governments together, to ensure that they’re deploying the more than $1 billion they’ve committed to the forest sector with urgency,” Eby said. “There is no time to wait. Jobs and mills are on the line.”

Asked whether he thinks the federal government will show the urgency he’s asking for, Eby admitted to feeling some “anxiety.” He attributed the feeling, in part, to being from Western Canada and having seen issues affecting Ontario and Quebec take precedence for the federal government, historically.

He referenced recent comments from federal Minister of Industry Melanie Joly about trade negotiations with the United States.

“When I see Minister Joly say we’re talking about steel, we’re talking about energy, and she doesn’t include forestry in that list, it tells me that we’ve got to be more in the face of the federal government,” Eby said. “They don’t get it yet.”

The premier described the latest tariffs as an “existential threat” to the forestry industry, and said B.C. and Canada must work to find alternative markets for its products while supporting workers and communities facing curtailments.

Joining Eby at the news conference outside the United Steel Workers District Head Office in Burnaby were representatives from forestry workers’ unions, companies in the industry and First Nations.

Speakers – including B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, USW District 3 director Scott Lunny and Unifor western regional director Gavin McGarrigle – praised the show of unity, saying all parties need to work together in the face of continued tariff aggression from the U.S.

“You know, 45 per cent is a number, but behind that there are real people,” said Lunny. “There’s paycheques, there’s families, there are whole communities.”

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