The following statement was released today by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) President and CEO, Derek Nighbor.
“The U.S. President’s move to place broad-based tariffs on Canadian exports is unjustified and unilaterally breaks the terms of the existing US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It is also deeply disappointing in that it runs counter to the principles of trust and collaboration that the Canada-U.S. relationship has been built on for generations.
For Canada’s forest sector, if these tariffs are not removed, they will damage a long- and well-functioning integrated forest products supply chain that runs two ways and benefits Americans and Canadians alike. It will also create business uncertainty on both sides of the border and will drive up costs for building materials and everyday household products for Americans.
Today, we stand with our federal government and provincial and territorial Premiers in support of a swift counter-response, including a comprehensive and responsible plan to support impacted employees, businesses, and communities until the President reverses his decision.”
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $87.2B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
