Ontario Premier Ford recently criticized various U.S. lawmakers and President Trump while calling for an end to tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. He recalled earlier periods when Canadian shipments captured 30 to 33 percent of the U.S. market and displaced domestic production.

"Robust enforcement of trade laws and Section 232 tariffs have lowered Canadian lumber's share of the U.S. market from 35 percent to roughly 19 percent on average. Premier Ford now seeks to undo that progress by urging the United States to open its borders to Canada's surplus capacity and longstanding unfair practices," said Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition.

Canadian leaders have made their goals clear in recent remarks. Premier Ford wants Canada to regain enough U.S. market share to operate its excess mills at full output. He also notes that such imports disrupt forest management on both sides of the border. Requesting that America absorb subsidized Canadian lumber at the expense of U.S. workers and companies is unreasonable, van Heyningen added.

Rather than asking the United States to serve as an outlet for Canada's subsidized overcapacity, Canadian officials should reduce that capacity responsibly. The U.S. Lumber Coalition calls for continued backing of President Trump's approach through sustained tariffs that support growth in domestic lumber output and increase the supply of American-made lumber for U.S. homes, van Heyningen concluded.

U.S. lumber community voices on President Trump's Trade Policies Boosting U.S. Forest Products Manufacturing - West Coast

U.S. lumber community voices on President Trump's Trade Policies Boosting U.S. Forest Products Manufacturing - East Coast

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition
Video: Building American Dreams
The U.S. Lumber Coalition unites large and small softwood lumber producers nationwide along with their workers and woodland owners to counter Canada's unfair trade practices. The group advocates full enforcement of U.S. trade laws so the domestic industry can expand without harm from below-market imports. Sustained enforcement will strengthen local supply chains and ensure more lumber produced by American workers is available for U.S. home construction. Additional details are available on the Coalition's website.

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen
[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition