The Ontario government said in a statement that it supports the U.S. Department of Commerce’s recent decision to lower the ‘unfair duty rates on Canadian softwood lumber exports,’ however, it maintains that all duty rates should be removed immediately.
Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued the following statement:
“Ontario’s forest sector and its workers are vital to the prosperity of this province. To deliver on our plan to build Ontario, our government is standing up for families, businesses, and communities by speaking out against unfair practices targeting our forest sector.”
The ministers highlighted that Ontario’s forest sector generated $18 billion in revenue from the sale of manufactured goods and services in 2020 and supported more than 148,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2021.
“At a time when we are taking action to provide cost-of-living relief, softwood lumber duties punish consumers and businesses on both sides of the border – and impose added hardship on the workers, families and communities that depend on Ontario’s forest sector,” the statement said.
“As this trade dispute continues, we will continue to seek fair treatment of our forest sector and fair outcomes for the public and industry alike. Together with provincial governments, the federal government and industry leaders across the country, Ontario stands united in support for the Canadian forest industry and free trade,” the ministers concluded.
