“This provisional safeguard tariff on imports of solid and engineered wood cabinets and vanities is very welcome news for Canadian wood manufacturing businesses, and the countless employees, families, contractors, and communities they sustain. We celebrate the fact that the serious concerns of hard-working Canadians have been heard, taken seriously, and acted upon by the federal government. We thank the offices of Finance Minister Champagne, and Prime Minister Mark Carney, in particular, for standing up for Canadian manufacturing and jobs.
This announcement sends a strong signal to our trading partners that Canada will continue to advocate for balanced and fair trade conditions here at home. It’s a victory for Canadian industry, skills, and business investment.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has undertaken an inquiry into the trade conditions that are impacting Canadian manufacturers of certain wood goods. This tariff is a temporary measure that will help stabilize Canadian businesses while that process unfolds. It is in full conformity with Canada’s trade agreements already in place.
This is a much-needed step in the right direction. However, we at the Canadian Wood Products Alliance (CWPA) remain concerned on two main fronts.
The first is that several types of locally made wood products have been excluded from the tariff, while they are experiencing the same challenges as cabinets and vanities. For example, many manufacturers of wood flooring and other furniture have already laid off employees or closed entirely, and those trends will continue without relief.
The second is that 25% tariffs must only be considered a starting point. We cannot stop there if our goal is to counterbalance the much higher tariffs which are currently hitting Canadian exports, and causing more uncompetitively priced wood products from overseas to be diverted here.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) to find a solution where all Canadian wood manufacturers can compete on fair grounds.”

“We appreciate the government’s swift recognition of the serious situation facing Canada’s wood products manufacturers, and its decisive action to initiate a Global Safeguard investigation on behalf of our industry. This investigation sends a strong signal to the Canadian market and to our trading partners that Canada will advocate for balanced and fair trade conditions.
However, this investigation is only the first step of many that must be taken.
Our position from the start has been that the Global Safeguard measure must be combined with immediate provisional tariffs on foreign-made goods entering Canada. The investigation alone will not be sufficient to provide the immediate relief and stability our industry needs, and to protect the tens of thousands of Canadians who depend on it.
The consequences for the industry are real, and they are already happening. Jobs have been lost, family-owned businesses have shut their doors, and communities are under increasing strain — and more will follow if Canadian manufacturers are forced to wait out the duration of the investigation with no tariffs in place.
Canada’s wood products manufacturers need a level playing field on which to compete. The Canadian Wood Products Alliance will continue to advocate on their behalf, fighting for local goods, local jobs, and the communities they sustain.”
