B.C. forest sector could face devastating blow if tariff threat goes through [Video]

British Columbia’s lumber industry is facing uncertainty, as looming tariffs threaten to decimate the sector.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen, businesses don’t like to not know what’s coming because you can’t make investment plans,” said Nick Arkle, CEO of Gorman Bros. Lumber.

As B.C.’s top lumber export destination, the U.S. is critical to the industry — meaning President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat could deal a devastating blow.

“About 60 per cent of our lumber in B.C. for the last couple of years has been going to the U.S., which in a way is funny because we have the president saying ‘We don’t need their trees.’ Well, that’s false. They do need our trees,” BC Forest Minister, Ravi Parmar said.

Gorman Bros. Lumber in West Kelowna sends about 50 per cent per cent of its product to the States, while about 30 per cent stays in …