Layoffs hit Nova Scotia as new U.S. tariffs wipe out pine market
About 60 to 80 percent of Nova Scotia's pine products, worth roughly $25 million, are exported to the United States.
Layoffs have begun in Nova Scotia's forestry sector after new U.S. tariffs effectively wiped out a major export market for the province's pine producers.
About 60 to 80 percent of Nova Scotia's pine products, worth roughly $25 million, are exported to the United States. Those products were hit with 50 percent tariffs after Canada-U.S. trade negotiations collapsed last week.
Breck Stuart, president of Forest Nova Scotia, told SaltWire the impact was virtually immediate.
"The western half of Nova Scotia, where there's a lot of white pine, that's 30 percent of our forest. That market basically went to zero overnight," Stuart said.
The tariffs affect value-added products including mouldings, doors, door frames and tongue-and-groove pine. Stuart said layoffs have already been issued and businesses are now working toward closures.
Nova Scotia's blueberry and apple industries escaped the latest tariffs because their products remain compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. However, fruit growers are worried they could be targeted next.
Between 80 and 90 percent of Nova Scotia's exported apples go to the United States, according to the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association. Executive director Emily Lutz warned the industry would be in "enormous trouble" if tariffs were extended to apples.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston responded by arguing the province can no longer depend on the United States as it once did and must develop more of its own energy and natural resources while finding new export markets.
Forestry representatives are also urging Ottawa to protect Canada's domestic market from cheaper foreign wood products.
Stuart said producers are being squeezed from both directions: effectively pushed out of the American market by tariffs while competing at home against inexpensive products from countries including China and South American nations.
"We can't compete in our own domestic market because we've got all these cheap things coming in. And now we've been pushed out of the U.S. market," Stuart said.
Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Editor-in-Chief, Alberta Bureau Chief, member of the board of directors, and host of The Gunn Show at Rebel News. Sheila also serves as President of the Independent Press Gallery of Canada. A mother of three and longtime conservative activist, Sheila is the author of bestselling books, including her most recent release, Independence Blueprint: What Alberta Can Learn From Quebec.
https://mybook.to/sheila
COMMENTS
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Fran g commented 2026-08-30 14:19:42 -0400All this tariff crap started with trudumb and now carnage. Those 2 idiots are to blame with most of this fallout. Trump is just being himself and watching how stupid and gullible these idiots are. chanada has fallen under liberals. Alberta needs to get out, along with Saskatchewans eventually. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2026-08-26 19:41:37 -0400It’s all a game to Carney and his elitists. They aren’t effected but they insist on throwing everything at Trump. It’s a bit like using human shields.
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ron hauck commented 2026-08-26 14:23:14 -0400The fallout down to the local economy is going to be enormous and painful so expect a lot more of these reports to come.
