The US lumber industry is petitioning the BC government to launch trade litigation against Canadian and provincial governments, and the Canadian forestry industry.
BC Lumber Trade Council President Susan Yurkovich had been hoping to reach an agreement with the states but admits she’s not surprised by this move.
“In absence of an agreement, we have been preparing for litigation and we’re fully prepared to defend our industry.”
The US is currently BC’s largest softwood lumber market, receiving more than half of Canada’s softwood exports. In 2015, the forestry industry supported an estimated 65,000 direct jobs in the province.
BC Forests Minister Steve Thomson emphasized in a statement that the petition is just an allegation and does not necessarily represent the US government’s views.
“We are disappointed that the US lumber industry has petitioned its government to launch trade litigation. If the US government pursues this case despite Canada’s wins of previous cases on appeal, we are confident that, as we have in the past, we will successfully defend BC’s market-based forest policies.”
It will now be up to the US Department of Commerce to consider the allegations made by the lumber industry and determine whether to proceed with litigation.