Midwest Timber Industry Welcomes Tariffs on Canadian Lumber

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The upper Midwest timber industry is welcoming the Trump
administration's announcement that it's imposing tariffs averaging 20 percent on
softwood lumber entering the United States from Canada.

The industry has been struggling in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The housing market
crash in 2008 cut demand for softwood lumber used to build homes, including the
products affected by the administration's move.

So industry groups in both states see Monday's announcement as good news for
communities with sawmills, and for loggers who supply them.

The Trump administration and U.S. industry groups say Canada unfairly
subsidizes its softwood lumber industry, putting U.S. companies at a competitive
disadvantage. Canada denies that its practices are unfair says the new tariffs
will hurt people in both countries, including American homebuyers who will now
pay more for wood.