The Forest Products Association of Canada is warning the federal government not to leave the forest sector behind in trade talks with the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump met yesterday to discuss trade.
Trump indicated that a new trade deal, focusing on steel, aluminum, and energy, is in the works.
Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc later indicated substantial progress was made but offered no specifics.
The Forest Products Association says the government needs to give forestry the same urgency that is being given to steel, aluminum and energy.
It says 200-thousand direct jobs are at stake if a resolution is not found in the long-standing softwood lumber dispute.
Canadian forest companies were hit with another increase in tariffs last week.
“We want to see more progress for our fellow Canadians working in sectors hard hit by U.S. tariffs, but we also want to see more public recognition from our federal government that our sector’s 200,000 employees are also a priority in these talks,” stated Derek Nighbor, the Association’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in a release.
“We simply want to see more urgency, and frankly, we were left wanting more in the post-meeting reports coming out of yesterday’s discussions.”
The Association says it will continue to provide data, technical expertise, and other support to help reach a fair and lasting resolution.
