The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is condemning the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final determination to increase duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
This would see a jump from 6.74 per cent to 14.63 per cent, on top of the increase to anti-dumping duties, now at 20.56 per cent, bringing the combined total to 35.1 per cent.
COFI said B.C. is Canada’s largest producer of softwood lumber, but the sector faces challenges, including rising costs, declining harvest levels, regulatory delays, and policy uncertainty.
It’s urging the provincial government to take immediate action to improve the sector.
That includes streamlining permitting processes, activating provincial timber sales, removing cross-ministry bottlenecks, and enhancing partnerships and revenue sharing with First Nations to ensure a sustainable and reliable wood supply for mills.
More information can be found here.
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