British Columbia Forestry Group Calls for Sector Support to Counter U.S. Tariffs

By Adriano Marchese

A broad coalition of British Columbia forest sector leaders has issued a plea to Premier David Eby requesting support to prevent widespread industry collapse under new U.S. tariffs.

The push comes as regional forest companies face severe pressure. The signatories said in a letter that beyond the existing cross-border softwood lumber duties of over 45%, Washington's new 50% Section 338 tariffs have expanded retaliatory duties to previously unaffected wood products such as pulp, paper and engineered timber.

In a letter, signed by 15 leaders in the sector including from the BC Council of Forest Industries and the Independent Wood Processors Association, the coalition requested greater support from the province by creating a Forestry Crisis Action Group to rapidly clear regulatory and permitting bottlenecks and expand provincial timber harvests, pitching the sector as a direct solution to the province's mounting budget shortfall.

To insulate the sector from escalating U.S. tariffs, the coalition is also requesting an immediate freeze on all provincial fees and speedier timber permits.

"We are asking government to reinvest in this important asset and remove the barriers within its own control so that this industry can generate additional government revenue, support a healthy forest, protect communities and thousands of jobs, and strengthen British Columbia's economy," the letter said.

The coalition is also urging the province to increase the annual Crown timber harvest targets to 45 million cubic meters from the currently projected 29 million cubic meters. Such an increase, the letter said, could also unlock up to 600 million Canadian dollars ($435 million) in additional revenue for the province.

The coalition said the increased revenue from the forestry sector could help offset the natural-gas revenue shortfall of around C$300 million, which was brought to light when a forecasting error was recently discovered.

Canada's forestry products companies, such as West Fraser Timber, Canfor and Interfor, aside from the volatility of U.S.-Canadian trade negotiations, continue to navigate a protracted challenges in North American wood markets, made worse by sluggish demand pressured by higher interest rates and a slowing housing market.

Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 09, 2026 12:04 ET (16:04 GMT)