The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a significant hike in tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, with the combined countervailing and anti-dumping duty rate set to rise from 14.5% to 34.45% in July 2025. The move has triggered strong reactions from Canadian forestry advocates, who warn of severe consequences for communities and industries that rely heavily on lumber exports. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), representing municipalities across Canada’s forest-rich northwest, has called the proposed tariff a “significant threat to the economy and well-being” of affected regions. Forestry is a central pillar ...