Latest news with #Ravi Parmar
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cautious optimism in B.C. after PM announces $1.2B in softwood lumber support
Analysts are expressing cautious optimism after the prime minister announced $1.2 billion in federal support for the struggling softwood lumber industry, one of B.C.'s largest employers. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that the federal government would be spending up to $700 million in loan guarantees for forestry companies and $500 million, largely in grants and contributions, to spur product development and market diversification for the hard-hit industry and millions for retraining lumber workers. B.C.'s forestry industry has taken major hits over the last few years, as escalating U.S. duties on softwood lumber imports have piled atop a number of other challenges that have led to thousands of job losses. Members of the province's forestry industry, as well as B.C.'s forests minister, welcomed the Tuesday funding announcement, especially as the federal government has previously been accused of ignoring the softwood lumber industry's struggles in B.C. Analysts say that long-term changes and diversification in the forestry industry are needed to keep it sustainable, but resolving the industry's barriers to U.S. exports would be the most effective short-term measure. "I'm going to be looking forward to working with my colleague [federal Natural Resources Minister] Tim Hodson on ensuring British Columbia gets its fair share of those dollars, that capital funding, that I hope will be able to help transform this sector," B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said Tuesday. Parmar told The Canadian Press that the share would be somewhere between 40 and 50 per cent, given the size of the provincial softwood lumber industry. The minister commended Carney's government for not ignoring the softwood lumber industry, and said former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government had not made it a priority. "I would say from the previous Liberal administration to this one, it's a night and day comparison," Parmar told CBC News Network. "I really appreciate the prime minister showing very strong leadership on ensuring that we can get a long-term softwood lumber deal."Push for diversification The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over two-thirds of the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. In addition to the Tuesday funding announcement, Carney announced that his government would use Canadian lumber and workers as part of its promise to build affordable homes. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, said the liquidity supports announced by Carney on Tuesday would help in the short term, but a long-term negotiated settlement with the U.S. needs to be the priority. "The diversification, as well as sort of growing the market within Canada, that is helpful as well and welcome. But that's going to be more of a longer-term initiative," Niquidet Taylor, a forest industry analyst and consultant, said that B.C.'s forestry industry had been struggling to make inroads in non-U.S. markets for some time. "We've been trying for decades to expand our product exports into the markets, and the U.S. is the best fit — partly because we make what they want, and the other markets around the world don't really want what we make," he said. "So it's a real challenge to get out of the U.S. market."Last month, the U.S. Commerce Department decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber to 20.56 per cent. If combined with countervailing duties, the total tariff rate on Canadian lumber would be almost 35 per cent. Parmar noted that U.S. President Donald Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into U.S. imports of lumber and timber, citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. Still, he remained optimistic about the B.C. government's efforts to diversify its lumber exports, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region in Vietnam and Japan. "We're going to be looking to find those new partners, and I think the U.S. administration is going to be taking a number of steps, I hope, to be able to secure a deal," he said. "But if they don't, I think they're going to be paying the price for higher lumber costs in the years ahead." Call for more direct support One union representative welcomed the federal money announced Tuesday, but said more needed to be done to get money directly to struggling workers. "The offer of loan guarantees — that needs to be tied to job guarantees and community guarantees, and making sure that the money is going to keep the industry where it is ... and keep people working," said Gavin McGarrigle, western regional director for the Unifor union, which represents more than 22,000 forestry workers across sits on the B.C. government's softwood lumber advisory council and said that the federal government needs to consult with industry and unions to ensure the money is being spent appropriately. "It's no good to talk about training people for the jobs of the future if they don't have a job today," he said. "And that's what people in these sectors and industries are looking at, making sure that they get a guarantee that their facility is going to be stable through the next year or two."
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Carney announces over $1B in supports for clobbered softwood lumber industry
Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed to use Canadian lumber to build homes and provide financial supports for the forestry sector as the U.S. hikes duties on the softwood industry. "We will be our own best customer by relying on more Canadian lumber for Canadian projects," Carney said at the announcement held a manufacturing mill in West Kelowna, B.C., Tuesday. The sector has been a longstanding target of the U.S., which recently raised anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the hit as a "gut punch" for the province's forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. Carney called the duties "unjustified" while promising to move the industry away from its dependence on the U.S. market. "This dependence creates costly uncertainty," he said from the Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd. mill. "It weakens our industry's ability to weather downturns. It makes lumber more expensive." WATCH | Carney announces supports for softwood lumber: Carney announces $700M in loan guarantees for softwood lumber industry 12 minutes ago The prime minister unveiled a suite of new measures Tuesday that he promised would help the industry serve a growing Canadian market "and those of new, reliable trading partners around the world." Carney said his government will use Canadian lumber and workers as part of its promise to build affordable homes. The Build Canada Homes program, promised during the election campaign, will launch this fall and provide up to $25 billion in financing to private sector home builders. "We are going to write our own story rather than letting others dictate theirs to us," he said. Carney also announced up to $700 million in loan guarantees for forestry companies and $500 million, largely in grants and contributions, to spur product development and market diversification for the hard-hit industry and millions for reskilling lumber workers.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a "gut punch" for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. "U.S. President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada's economy, and there is no sector that has faced more of that than the forestry sector," he told CBC News. "This is a big deal for our workers. This is going to have a significant impact. It will lead to curtailments," he added. The B.C. government has been urging the federal government to prioritize the softwood lumber industry in trade discussions with the U.S., and Parmar said the hiked duties would also impact U.S. homeowners needing lumber to rebuild or renovate their homes. "This is going to mean that Americans, in particular middle-class Americans, are going to be paying more to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 more USD to purchase or to build a home." The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says in a statement that if the U.S. department's pending review on countervailing duties is in line with its preliminary results, the combined rate against Canadian softwood shipped to the United States will be well over 30 per cent. In April, the preliminary combined rate on Canadian softwood lumber was reported to be 34.45 per cent, up from the previous 14.54 per cent. Friday's decision is a final determination, with Parmar saying it would go into effect in the U.S. Federal Register shortly.U.S. lumber producers have long maintained that Canadian stumpage fees, for harvesting on Crown land, are an unfair government subsidy. B.C.'s Independent Wood Processors Association says in a statement that the U.S. Commerce Department's decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. WATCH | B.C. premier urges feds to prioritze lumber deal: Association chair Andy Rielly says in a statement that the requirement to pay duties on products shipped in the last 31 months could not only force small B.C. producers to shut down, but may also threaten operators' personal assets as they may have to risk using their homes as collateral to secure bonds to pay. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that a future trade agreement with the United States could include quotas on softwood lumber, an area that has caused friction between the two countries for years before the latest trade war. Producer urges province to change conditions The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over half the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. Kim Haakstad, the CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said the B.C. government should work to improve the production environment in the province to prevent future mill closures. In a statement, the council said that by activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits and cutting through regulatory gridlock, the province could send a signal that it is serious about rebuilding a sustainable forest argued that if the industry could get production levels back to historic levels, it could help keep forestry-dependent communities vibrant into the future. "That will bring more than $300 million to the provincial government, as well, to help address the deficit situation we're in," Haakstad said. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, highlighted that Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into the U.S. imports of lumber and timber citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. "Softwood lumber is quite important for the United States. They can only supply about 70 per cent of their softwood lumber demand, and they're importing 30 per cent from elsewhere," he told CBC News. "25 per cent of that's really coming from Canada, and British Columbia is the largest softwood lumber producer within Canada."
CBC
26-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
Social Sharing The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a "gut punch" for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. "U.S. President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada's economy, and there is no sector that has faced more of that than the forestry sector," he told CBC News. "This is a big deal for our workers. This is going to have a significant impact. It will lead to curtailments," he added. The B.C. government has been urging the federal government to prioritize the softwood lumber industry in trade discussions with the U.S., and Parmar said the hiked duties would also impact U.S. homeowners needing lumber to rebuild or renovate their homes. "This is going to mean that Americans, in particular middle-class Americans, are going to be paying more to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 more USD to purchase or to build a home." The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says in a statement that if the U.S. department's pending review on countervailing duties is in line with its preliminary results, the combined rate against Canadian softwood shipped to the United States will be well over 30 per cent. In April, the preliminary combined rate on Canadian softwood lumber was reported to be 34.45 per cent, up from the previous 14.54 per cent. Friday's decision is a final determination, with Parmar saying it would go into effect in the U.S. Federal Register shortly. WATCH | Duties hiked on softwood lumber: U.S. hikes anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber | Hanomansing Tonight 17 hours ago U.S. lumber producers have long maintained that Canadian stumpage fees, for harvesting on Crown land, are an unfair government subsidy. B.C.'s Independent Wood Processors Association says in a statement that the U.S. Commerce Department's decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. WATCH | B.C. premier urges feds to prioritze lumber deal: Will a softwood lumber deal be part of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations? | Power & Politics 5 days ago As premiers meet ahead of a briefing from the prime minister on the state of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations on Tuesday, B.C. Premier David Eby tells Power & Politics there may be 'an opportunity' for Canada to strike a deal on long-standing softwood lumber disputes with the Americans. Association chair Andy Rielly says in a statement that the requirement to pay duties on products shipped in the last 31 months could not only force small B.C. producers to shut down, but may also threaten operators' personal assets as they may have to risk using their homes as collateral to secure bonds to pay. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that a future trade agreement with the United States could include quotas on softwood lumber, an area that has caused friction between the two countries for years before the latest trade war. Producer urges province to change conditions The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over half the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. Kim Haakstad, the CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said the B.C. government should work to improve the production environment in the province to prevent future mill closures. In a statement, the council said that by activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits and cutting through regulatory gridlock, the province could send a signal that it is serious about rebuilding a sustainable forest sector. WATCH | B.C.'s forestry industry struggles amid tariff war: Trump's tariff war could collapse B.C.'s struggling forest industry 4 months ago B.C.'s forest industry is already in serious trouble, and U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war is pushing it closer to the brink of collapse. CBC's Lyndsay Duncombe breaks down what's at stake for lumber producers and how they're looking to adapt. Haakstad argued that if the industry could get production levels back to historic levels, it could help keep forestry-dependent communities vibrant into the future. "That will bring more than $300 million to the provincial government, as well, to help address the deficit situation we're in," Haakstad said. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, highlighted that Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into the U.S. imports of lumber and timber citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. "Softwood lumber is quite important for the United States. They can only supply about 70 per cent of their softwood lumber demand, and they're importing 30 per cent from elsewhere," he told CBC News.
