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its lumber industry, creating an unfair competitive advantage, rawpixel.com
the Canadians argue that the US uses flawed methodology
to arrive at this conclusion, and in calculating duties.
Kurt Niquidet, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council

reiterated this stance in a written statement newly.
“These duties are both unjustified and harmful,” he said.
“They unfairly penalise forestry workers and families across
British Columbia, while further increasing costs for American
homebuilders and consumers.”
The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) issued a
separate written statement saying it wants the lumber trade
dispute made a top national priority and for the province to
do more to bolster the industry.

COFI called for the creation of a dedicated team to clear
permitting backlogs, the release of more volume through BC
Timber Sales, and the expansion of salvage and thinning or total shutdown of production facilities.
operations, among other actions. Currently, approximately 1,400 containers are enroute to
"The best way to support forest workers is to keep mills the US and around 1,100 containers are stuck at Brazilian
operating and people working," the COFI statement says. "We ports awaiting shipment, worsening logistical problems and
want to retain forestry workers, not retrain them." resulting in commercial losses.

Some companies have already been forced to implement
Timber sector in Brazil coping with US tariffs mandatory worker leave to buy time and preserve jobs while
TheBrazilian Association of Mechanically Processed Timber others are preparing for layoffs. Production is being reduced
Industry (Abimci) has expressed deep concern over the impact across virtually the entire sector and in many cases, it has
of the US government decision to impose a 50 percent tariff come to a complete halt.
on Brazilian timber products. Considering this critical situation, Abimci has urged the
Abimci says this measure severely undermines the Federal government to take immediate and coordinated actions
competitiveness of Brazil’s national production chain which to mitigate the effects of the tariffs.
directly employs approximately 180,000 people. These include a formal request to extend the implementation

Production is largely concentrated in the three southern deadline of the tariffs; a recommendation not to apply
states with about 90 percent of installed capacity being in reciprocal tariffs that could be interpreted as retaliation by the
the region, says the association. US government and the intensification of diplomatic dialogue
Wood product exports to the US reached around US$1.6 with the United States.
billion in 2024 highlighting the importance of the American Abimci emphasises that this crisis demands high-priority
market which accounted for an average 50 percent of Brazil’s treatment and the urgent mobilisation of foreign policy
national production. The sector is gripped by uncertainty. and international trade instruments to safeguard industrial

The industry is already facing serious consequences such activity, protect jobs and maintain Brazil’s presence in the
as contract cancellations, suspension of shipments and partial US market.