Steelworkers: U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to double duties on Canadian softwood lumber is pure protectionism

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BURNABY, British Columbia, Aug. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The United Steelworkers (USW) has criticized the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to double tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.

“The U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to double existing duties and tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber products is nothing more than pure American protectionism,” said Jeff Bromley, president of the American Steelworkers’ Lumber Council.

“The continued escalation of duties and tariffs on Canadian products entering the United States, while many other countries – particularly from Europe – enjoy free and unrestricted access to U.S. markets, is not only unfair, but also runs counter to the spirit of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship, where most goods and resources flow between the two countries free of duties and tariffs.”

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The American Woodworkers Federation asserts that these increases are nothing more than an attempt by U.S. softwood lumber lobbyists to artificially raise lumber prices.

“The current price of the commodity is in a down cycle, so they want to cripple Canadian supply in the hope that prices will rebound. That’s not going to work, it’s shallow economics,” Bromley said.

“The baseless claim that our industry is subsidized is absurd. Our workers earn far more wages and benefits than the non-union workforce in the United States, and our fiber costs are far higher. In Canada, our public resources benefit workers, communities, and First Nations, which I don’t see in the United States, where landlords seem more focused on artificially enriching their competitive edge.”

Since 2017, the Canadian forest industry has paid more than $9 billion in fees and tariffs.

“At some point, the U.S. softwood lumber industry lobbyists are going to want to make a deal to get that money,” Bromley said.

Meanwhile, Canadian forest workers are being laid off because of these unfair fees and tariffs.

About the United Steel Workers:
The Canadian Forest Workers Union represents more than 14,000 forestry workers in Canada and 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada. It is the largest private sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Every year, thousands of workers choose to join the American Steelworkers Union because of our strong record of creating healthier, safer, more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation — including good wages, benefits and pensions.

For more information:

Jeff Bromley, President, Lumber Council, United Steelworkers, 250-426-9870, J Bromley@usw.ca

Brett Barden, USW Communications, 604-445-6956, barden@usw.ca

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