Tembec open to lumber export quotas in a break from Canadian industry
MONTREAL — Eastern Canadian lumber producer Tembec says it’s open to quotas on exports to the United States, in a break from the positions of some Canadian rivals and the Quebec government.
While chief executive James Lopez agrees that Canadian lumber should be exempt from restrictions because provincial systems are now market-based, he’s advocating for a compromise to secure a new agreement.
Lopez said he’s willing to accept limits on access in the belief that increasing home construction will ultimately result in higher lumber shipments and the supply of B.C. lumber is falling.
“We could live with a quota system,” he said in an interview Thursday before Tembec’s annual meeting.