U.S. Lumber Coalition: Canada Relentlessly Piles on New Multibillion Dollar Lumber Subsidies In Attempt to Scuttle President Trump's Trade Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "President Trump rightly chose to support U.S. forestry workers with a fair and measured Section 232 tariff to help address Canada's ongoing and egregious unfair trade practices, which put U.S. jobs at risk and demonstrate Canada's contempt for our country's trade rules," stated Andrew Miller, Chair and Owner of Stimson Lumber Company.

"After repeated findings by the U.S. Department of Commerce that Canada's industry is heavily subsidized and engages in severe and harmful dumping practices, what does Canada do? It doubles down on its unfair trade practices by announcing billions of dollars in subsidies in one program after another for its softwood lumber industry," added Miller.

Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition, Zoltan van Heyningen elaborated: "Since August of this year alone, the Canadian federal and provincial governments have announced a long list of enormous subsidies for softwood lumber producers and downstream industries to support the country's giant lumber export machine. Just one look at the appended list will show the magnitude and the severity of the market distortions U.S. producers are facing from unfair Canadian subsidies and trade." 

"Canada has long used the United States as a dumping ground for its massive excess softwood lumber capacity and production. For some reason, Canada feels entitled to access the U.S. market while simultaneously engaging in egregious and harmful unfair trade practices proven to be detrimental to U.S. lumber producers, their workers, and our forestry-dependent communities," said van Heyningen.

"President Trump is absolutely correct to focus on our domestic softwood lumber industry, which supplies over 70 percent of U.S. lumber needs, versus bowing to foreign interests doing everything they can to displace U.S. producers. The U.S. lumber industry applauds the President for standing up for U.S. workers and their families with his continued efforts to stop these harmful trade practices by imposing Section 232 tariffs," added van Heyningen.

"Strong trade law enforcement will allow the U.S. industry to continue its path to growth and contribute to a stable domestic supply of softwood lumber products to meet U.S. housing needs," concluded van Heyningen.

U.S. lumber community voices on President Trump's trade law enforcement and the positive impacts on U.S. manufacturing: https://vimeo.com/1086817309?fl=pl&fe=ti

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices. The Coalition supports the full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to allow the U.S. industry to invest and grow to its natural size without being impaired by unfairly traded imports. Continued full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws will strengthen domestic supply lines by maximizing long-term domestic production and lumber availability produced by U.S. workers to build U.S. homes. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.

Canadian Subsidy Announcements Since August 2025:

Federal

• Reskilling Package: In September, the Government of Canada (GOC) announced a new reskilling package created to train 50,000 workers to invest in Canadians through the federal government's Labour Market Development Agreements with provinces and territories. The GOC pledged an additional $450 million over the next three years to train employees, including "mid-career, long-tenured workers affected by U.S. tariffs and global market shifts." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)
  
  
• Workforce Alliances and Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund: The government will invest $382 million over the next five years to "invest in projects tailored to local job markets to help businesses recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)
  
  
• Workforce Innovation Fund: The government will provide $50 million to fund "projects that help businesses in key sectors and regions recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)
  
  
• Strategic Response Fund: In September, the GOC launched this new program to support "economic resilience" for "strategic sectors disproportionately exposed to U.S. tariffs and global trade risks." (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/programs-and-initiatives/strategic-response-fund)
  
  
• New Buy Canadian Policy: By November 2025, the GOC pledged to prioritize Canadian suppliers in federal spending and have amended its procurement requirements to require all federal agencies and Crown corporations to follow the Buy Canada Policy. The Policy includes Canadian softwood lumber. (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)
  
  
• Immediate Liquidity Relief: The Business Development Bank of Canada will offer loans of $2 - $5 million for SMEs impacted by tariffs. The Bank will also offer "{f}lexibilities to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility, including lower interest rates and longer maturities." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)
  
  
• Regional Tariff Response Initiative: This program was created earlier this year in March, and in September, the GOC announced that it would significantly increase allocated funds from $450 million to $1 billion over the next three years to support businesses (particularly SMEs) directly or indirectly impacted by U.S. tariffs. (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and)

British Columbia

• BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund: The Government of British Columbia announced $2.5 million in funding for nine wood-product manufacturing businesses to plan or complete capital projects. (https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025FOR0039-000907)

Ontario

• Ontario Forest Access Roads Program: The Government of Ontario (GOO) announced a $20 million increase in funding for Provincial Forest Access Roads program (already countervailed). (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907)
  
  
• Ontario Sawmill Chip Support Program: The GOO announced a $10 million increase in funding for Ontario Sawmill Chip Support program to help sawmills find "new, innovative markets for their wood chips." (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907)
  
  
• Investments in Steel and Softwood Lumber Industries: Through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the government announced "a series of investments to strengthen the economy across Northern Ontario." These initiatives will support "workers and businesses most affected by tariffs and trade disruptions." (https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/canadian-news/ontario-economic-agency-announces-investments-steel-and-softwood-industries)

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen
[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition