The advanced wood-manufacturing sector in Ontario and across Canada condemns the latest United States administration’s decision to impose unjustified punitive tariffs on kitchen cabinets, select wood furniture and manufactured softwood lumber products.
In a news release, the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario says immediate action is required and calls on the Federal and provincial governments to work diligently and aggressively to get these tariffs lifted; this is to guarantee jobs and prosperity for our communities across the country.
The advanced wood-manufacturing sector in Canada represents over $20 billion in revenues, over 100,000 employees and includes a majority of small and medium sized employers.
The release goes on to say that these latest tariffs imposed under Section 232, claiming that, “our products threaten the security of the United States, are unjustified.
“This is a lose-lose scenario. These tariffs will have a devastating impact on companies that export to the United States. They will also disrupt the North American housing sector supply chain, raise costs for housing in the United States and destroy the shared prosperity an integrated trade relationship provides.
“We are also calling on both Federal and provincial governments to mandate a made-in-Canada policy for cabinetry, furniture, and Canadian manufactured softwood components to be included in the government-sponsored housing initiatives for our domestic market.”
Organizations like the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario work hard to support our industry to thrive and be sustainable. This can only be achieved with effective foreign policy that puts Canadian companies on a level and fair playing field with trading countries.
