Western red cedar is an ‘innocent bystander’ caught in the crossfire between the US and Canadian timber industries, according to a cross-border coalition of lumber producers.
The Stand Up for Cedar Coalition has kicked off an aggressive campaign to have cedar exempted from countervailing duties imposed by the US Commerce Department on Canadian lumber imports.
It says cedar is mainly used for trim and siding unlike the 2×4 pine and spruce contruction grade timber at the heart of the dispute.
Doug Clitheroe, chairman of the British Columbia Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, said: ‘The longer cedar is held hostage by the duty, the more market share that will be lost and much of that market share will be permanent.’
The campaign entails adverts in major newspapers, a new website (www.standupforcedar.com) and the hiring of former US senator Slade Gorton to lobby in Washington.
Since the US’s preliminary decision to impose countervailing duties on Canadian lumber was announced, (TTJ August 25) several mills have temporarily shut and up to 4,000 workers laid off. A decision on whether the duty will be permanent is due in December.
