U.S. Lumber Coalition Responds to Canadian Lumber Subsidy Summit

In early November 2025, the U.S. Lumber Coalition issued a statement addressing the Canadian government's summit focused on its lumber industry. This gathering, organized by both federal and provincial officials, aims to find ways to support Canada’s lumber production. However, the U.S. coalition expressed strong concerns about the implications this summit could have on the American lumber market, particularly citing its impact on U.S. jobs and industry growth.

Zoltan van Heyningen, the Coalition’s Executive Director, emphasized that the priority should be on the welfare of U.S. forestry workers rather than on determining how to sustain the excess lumber capacity that Canada possesses. According to van Heyningen, Canada currently has an excess of 6 to 8 billion board feet of lumber, which significantly disrupts the U.S. market. He argues that this surplus not only threatens U.S. job security but also impedes the growth of the U.S. forestry industry.

The statement from the Coalition underscored the need for stringent enforcement of U.S. trade laws, contending that the focus should be on responsible management of Canadian lumber production rather than simply maintaining its current excessive levels. Van Heyningen pointed out that Canada’s protective measures and subsidies make it less accountable for its market practices.

“Canada’s insistence on preserving its lumber overproduction and associated jobs means that an overwhelming majority of this excess lumber flows directly into the U.S. market,” van Heyningen noted, highlighting the detrimental effects on American jobs. He further called for Canada to reconsider its massive lumber subsidy programs, suggesting that these practices amount to treating the U.S. market as a dumping ground for Canadian lumber, thus harming U.S. producers.

As it stands, Canada faces a combined antidumping and anti-subsidy duty of 35.16 percent alongside a 10 percent Section 232 tariff imposed by then-President Trump. Van Heyningen advocates that if Canada genuinely seeks to alleviate its penalties, it should curtail its dumping practices and the subsidies that favor its lumber industry. He asserts that the responsibility lies with Canada to change these practices and stop invoking criticisms against U.S. legislation designed to protect domestic interests.

Andrew Miller, Chair and Owner of Stimson Lumber Company, supported van Heyningen’s sentiment by praising the U.S. government’s commitment to enhancing the domestic lumber industry through strategic tariffs. He encouraged additional measures until Canada acknowledges the negative effects of its subsidies on the U.S. lumber market.

In recent months, the Canadian government has announced various financial aid programs aimed at bolstering its lumber and related industries. These include a reskilling package to train 50,000 workers and several investment initiatives aimed at supporting businesses impacted by tariffs. Miller and van Heyningen argue that these efforts exacerbate the situation rather than alleviate it, positioning the Canadian government’s actions as defiant against the interests of American workers.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition stands firm on its resolve to advocate for fair trade practices and to fight against what they perceive as Canada’s unfair lumber subsidies. They aim to ensure that U.S. workers in the lumber sector can compete without the burden of subsidized foreign competition and that American forestry-dependent communities are able to thrive.

For further information regarding the Coalition's stance and activities, visit their official website: U.S. Lumber Coalition.

As this situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen how both countries will navigate these trade tensions, and whether Canada will heed the Coalition’s calls for reform.