Canfor to Close Alberta Mill, Citing U.S. Tariffs, Wildfires

By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--Canadian forest-products producer Canfor said Tuesday it would shut down a mill in Alberta, citing U.S. trade policy as well as a hit to supply from wildfires and insect outbreaks.

Canfor, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, purchased the Fox Creek mill in 2021, along with two others in Alberta, saying at the time it would help the company expand its operating platform.

But the combination of reduced supply stemming from a pine-beetle infestation and forest fires, and additional U.S. duties on Canadian lumber, means the facility is no longer viable, the company said. The closure will take effect by later summer, and eliminate 120 million board feet of production capacity, Canfor said.

Earlier this month, Canfor closed a pulp mill in British Columbia, citing oversupply in global markets.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition recently said that President Trump's tariffs on Canadian lumber has reduced Canada's share of the U.S. forest-products market to 19%, from a 34% level in 2016. The coalition supports U.S. tariffs on Canadian forest products, alleging Canadian governments subsidize production.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 28, 2026 19:56 ET (23:56 GMT)