Decades of trade disputes reshape Canada’s softwood lumber sector
Mounting U.S. tariffs and duties on Canadian softwood lumber are accelerating production cuts, mill closures, and export losses—especially in Quebec and British Columbia—but they are also pushing the forestry sector to reposition toward new markets, higher value-added products, and stronger domestic demand, writes RBC economist Salim Zanzana. “Federal and provincial initiatives focused on developing new export markets, particularly in Asia, bolstering domestic demand, and expanding production of higher value-added products such as mass timber could help diversify revenue streams, improve profitability and accelerate the sector’s long-term competitiveness,” Zanzana says.
