The B.C. government香蕉视频直播檚 move to restructure Catalyst Paper香蕉视频直播檚 pension obligations is only the start of a long-term restructuring of the forest industry, Premier John Horgan says.
The immediate threat is the imposition of anti-dumping duties totalling 22 per cent that took effect in April, which Horgan called 香蕉视频直播渁n assault on our industries香蕉视频直播� and unfair trade practices by the U.S.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been meeting with Catalyst and the communities they operate in, Powell River, Crofton, North Cowichan and Port Alberni, since April when we held a conference here with local MLAs,香蕉视频直播� Horgan told reporters at the B.C. legislature Monday.
香蕉视频直播淏ut there are also underlying issues when it comes to pulp production in British Columbia, and the primary issue is access to fibre. As we香蕉视频直播檝e seen an increase in the export of raw logs, as we香蕉视频直播檝e seen a decline in the number of sawmills, which means there are fewer chips, there香蕉视频直播檚 less feedstock for the pulp sector. That香蕉视频直播檚 one of the fundamental issues that existed prior to the tariff question coming forward.香蕉视频直播�
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Horgan said the regulation change made Friday to extend Catalyst香蕉视频直播檚 time to pay off a pension funding shortfall is designed to prevent a scenario faced by Sears employees in B.C. 香蕉视频直播渨ho went to the bottom of the line when it came to addressing receivership.香蕉视频直播�
Keeping pulp and paper mills from meeting a similar fate, as they struggle with the latest round of anti-dumping duties that protect U.S. mills from Canadian competition, is the immediate task. The latest duties target uncoated paper such as newsprint, and has raised protests from U.S. newspaper companies that it is pushing their costs higher.
B.C. trade officials expect that with the deteriorating trade relationship with the U.S. in recent months, tariffs on paper products could go even higher, up to 28.5 per cent, as early as August.
Catalyst moved in June to sell its U.S. mills to Nine Dragons Paper Ltd., a Hong Kong company. Catalyst indicated the sale eases the company香蕉视频直播檚 debt position and allows it to focus on its B.C. operations, which employ 1,500 people.
