British Columbia’s softwood industry is facing an “existential threat” from increasing U.S. tariffs that needs to be treated with the same urgency by the federal government as threats to Canadian steel and auto jobs, B.C. Premier David Eby says.
Eby held a news conference Tuesday, surrounded by union and industry representatives on the same day an additional 10 per cent duty for softwood lumber and 25 per cent on furniture came into effect.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the additional tariffs last month.
It means Canadian softwood lumber entering the United States will see combined duties and tariffs exceeding 45 per cent.
“When auto parts makers … when steelworkers in Ontario, when their jobs are in trouble, when their jobs are threatened, it’s treated as a national emergency, and rightly so. These are foundational industries for Ontario, for Canada, and I feel the urgency around those steel jobs as much as any Canadian,” Eby said.
“What we’re asking for today is that same respect, that same concern, that same sense of emergency, is shared for the forest sector in this country.”
Eby said he feels some anxiety that other industries, like energy and aluminum, may be at the front of federal officials’ minds, when it comes to making trade deals with the United States.
He said it’s important the federal government looks at “the whole array of sectors,” not just the ones where Trump recognizes that American industries will suffer without a deal.
“A side deal on aluminum is, basically, it’s delivering to Trump what he knows he requires and he can’t get anywhere else at no additional cost. We’ve got to make sure that all those industries are moving together in lockstep,” the premier said, while standing alongside Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.
“That’s been part of my message to the federal government. Or reach agreement on more vulnerable sectors, like softwood.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in August that his government would offer up to $700 million in loan guarantees to help forestry companies and another $500 million to support market diversification.
On Tuesday, Eby said that money is urgently needed.
“There is no time to wait. Jobs and mills are on the line,” he said.
Derek Nighbor, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada, said in an interview Tuesday that details are still being finalized and the federal money has not made it to Canadian companies yet.
While the industry is grateful for the funds, Nighbor said it’s “not going to be nearly enough” if the trade war stretches on.
“That was a very good first step to provide some more immediate supports to push through the current storm,” he said. “But if this storm persists for a number of more weeks and months, there’s just going to be a whole lot of hurt facing this industry.”
Nighbor said there have been “very positive” meetings with Canadian politicians and negotiators.
He said since the prime minister’s meeting in Washington last week, “lumber hasn’t really been talked about.”
“When I see the Industry Minister (Mélanie Joly) commenting about moving toward more sector-specific deals, and that talks with the U.S. right now are focused on steel, aluminum and energy, that has us in the forest sector asking the question, ‘Where do we stand?’” he said.
“Our industry needs more urgent attention from this government at the negotiating table.”
A joint statement issued by 16 industry and union representatives said it is wrong for the United States to claim Canadian lumber represents a national security threat.
“These unwarranted and unjustified trade actions are having devastating impacts and the lack of tangible progress for forest sector workers and communities is deeply concerning,” the statement said.
In a letter sent to Carney this week, Eby said the tariffs have left anyone with jobs dependent on the forest industry under imminent threat.
“The punitive and unfair tariffs and duties, coupled with historic lows for the price of lumber and the cratering U.S. demand for housing products, have put many forest companies on a razor’s edge of survival,” the letter dated Oct. 10 says.
“I’m afraid some will not survive the current state of affairs. Mill workers, loggers, truckers, contractors and all the jobs dependent on an active forestry industry are all under imminent threat.”
Eby said in the letter that Canada needs to have programs in place to support workers in the event of curtailments, layoffs and permanent closures, including enhanced unemployment benefits for those workers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2025.
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