New Brunswick’s forestry sector is raising alarm over a U.S. Department of Commerce decision that could see combined duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports rise to 34% by mid-August.
The increase includes a sharp jump in anti-dumping duties, from 7.66% to 20.56%, with countervailing duties also expected to rise. The New Brunswick Lumber Producers (NBLP) say the move unfairly targets the province’s distinct forestry model, which relies heavily on private wood sources and market-based pricing.
“This increase is unjustified,” said Jerome Pelletier and Glen Warmen, Co-Chairs of the NBLP. “New Brunswick is being penalized by a trade case that fails to recognize the province’s unique system and high use of private wood.”
New Brunswick had historically been excluded from past softwood lumber trade disputes due to:
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Market-based Crown stumpage fees
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Some of the highest stumpage rates in Canada
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A 50% share of supply from private woodlots — far higher than other provinces
Despite no changes to these conditions, the province now faces steep duties. Since 2017, the U.S. Department of Commerce has conducted several audits of New Brunswick’s largest producer, each time confirming duty rates below the Canadian average — indicating no significant government subsidy.
The forestry sector is vital to the province’s economy, supporting over 24,000 jobs and playing a central role in rural communities, wood supply chains, and manufacturing.
“These new duties threaten mill towns, private landowners, and small businesses across the province,” the NBLP warned. “We urge industry, government, and all New Brunswickers to stand together against these punitive measures.”
The New Brunswick Lumber Producers represent 95% of the province’s softwood lumber output and are key suppliers of biomass and wood inputs for pulp, paper, and pellet manufacturing across the region.
