Donald Trump's move to impose countervailing duties of up to 24 per cent on most Canadian softwood lumber imports has prompted a response from MP Anthony Rota.
“As in many other areas across the country, forestry plays a vital role in the economy here in Nipissing – Timiskaming. In Ontario, the sector directly or indirectly employs 172,000 people in 260 communities, many of those here in the north.
“The tariffs announced Tuesday are unfair and our government is going to fight them vigorously and do everything to protect these good-paying jobs. We are also moving quickly to offer support to companies and affected workers.
“Some of those steps include promoting the use of Canadian wood here at home and in new markets. We’re also making sure workers whose livelihoods are being affected will have access to short- and long-term measures such as employment insurance, counselling and retraining, and are encouraging companies to take advantage of financial initiatives available to exporters.”
Rota says Canada has won trade challenges over this issue before and fully expect to win again.
However, that will likely take many months.
