United States Spikes Softwood Lumber Tariffs After Trudeau Fails To Reach Agreement

August 14, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement: 

“After nine years, Justin Trudeau has failed Canadian workers. Trudeau and his incompetent Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, have failed to reach an agreement with the Americans on softwood lumber, and now, thousands of Canadian jobs are at stake.

“Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland are not worth the cost to Canadian workers. He brought in foreign replacement workers to build Canadian factories, failed to protect our auto industry from cheap Chinese EVs, and hiked his punitive carbon tax by 23 percent, making the cost of everything more expensive. This latest failure to reach an agreement with the United States will double the tariffs placed on softwood lumber, and working Canadians will pay the price.

“It wasn’t like this before Trudeau. Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper negotiated a deal with the United States within 80 days of taking office, bringing home powerful paycheques to Canada. Trudeau and Freeland, on the other hand, have had nine years and three separate presidents, yet not only has he failed to strike a deal, but the tariffs are getting worse.

“Yesterday, the United States increased their tariffs from 8.05 percent to 14.45 percent, which will devastate Canada’s forestry sector and the thousands of jobs that depend on it.

“This happened even though Conservatives warned Trudeau and Freeland that this would happen if they did not act. Repeatedly, the Liberals have refused to listen to the solutions proposed by the forestry sector, failed to advocate for Canadian lumber at the diplomatic and industry level in Washington DC, and failed to raise this issue with President Biden when he visited Ottawa two years ago.

“Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland simply aren’t worth the cost. There should have never been a nine-year delay on a new softwood lumber agreement. This failure has allowed American companies to receive over $8 billion in money that should’ve gone to Canadian workers and businesses.

“Trudeau should fire his incapable Finance Minister before she can do more damage to our economy. Only Common Sense Conservatives will deliver a deal for Canada’s forestry workers and bring home powerful paycheques for Canadians.”