For immediate release
November 9, 2016
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Susan Yurkovich, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council (BCLTC) issued a statement today:
“BC lumber producers greatly appreciate the leadership of the Prime Minister, Minister Chrystia Freeland, Premier Christy Clark and Minister Steve Thomson on making softwood lumber a priority issue with the U.S. We don’t expect the results of the U.S. election to change this priority.
Access to the U.S. market for Canadian softwood lumber has been the subject of trade talks and litigation between the governments of Canada and the U.S. spanning generations, and both Republican and Democratic administrations in the United States.
Canada is an important supplier of lumber products to the U.S. With the U.S. economy growing, and housing and construction starts on the rise, the U.S. lumber industry alone cannot meet the needs of its domestic consumers and relies on Canadian lumber products. As such, we expect discussions between Canada and U.S. to continue towards achieving a new softwood lumber agreement in order to provide certainty and stability for consumers and producers on both sides of the border.
We recognize these discussions are complex and challenging but BC lumber producers remain committed to working closely with the federal government to support negotiations with the current administration as well as the next administration in the U.S.
We are also fully prepared to work alongside the Canadian government to defend our industry against any potential trade actions brought by the United States, as we have done successfully in the past.”