AMSTERDAM AND NEW YORK – The Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, two global sustainability certification organizations, have announced their intention to merge later this year. The new organization will be named the Rainforest Alliance, and will tackle environmental and social issues, including climate change, deforestation, poverty and unsustainable farming. It will create a single global certification…
NORTH BAY, ON – A package of support measures for Canada’s forest products industry was applauded by industry groups on this side of the border, but labelled a further subsidy by a trade group in the U.S. On June 1, the Honourable Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of…
MOLINE, Illinois – Deere & Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Wirtgen Group, a privately-held international company that manufactures road construction equipment. The purchase price for the equity is EUR 4.357 billion in an all-cash transaction. The total transaction value is approximately EUR 4.6 billion (USD 5.2 billion based on current exchange…
The softwood lumber dispute with the United States could be resolved before the NAFTA renegotiation gets underway in mid-August, says Quebec’s softwood lumber envoy. Raymond Chretien, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., said Friday he’s optimistic because of recent comments by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that he would like to conclude a deal before…
FPInnovations welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of support to Canada’s forest sector for market and product diversification and forestry-based indigenous communities. The announcement, made by the Honourable James Carr, Minister of Natural Resources; the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, highlights the importance of the…
U.S. President Donald Trump’s retreat from the Paris climate agreement is sure to feature prominently in an upcoming high-profile trade mission to China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, says Canada’s point man on energy. “No doubt there will be conversations with the Chinese about what that means,” said Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr in an…
The American lumber lobby at the heart of the softwood trade dispute is attacking Ottawa’s new $867-million aid package for the Canadian forestry industry as another “government subsidy,” raising the possibility that Washington could impose further punitive duties on producers from Canada. The Trudeau government unveiled a significant support program for the Canadian softwood industry…
The Canadian government today announced it will make $867 million in loans available to the forestry industry, workers and communities impacted by softwood lumber tariffs recently imposed by the United States. The deal includes a series of loans and loan guarantees that will work in concert with provincial efforts to support the industry. “We believe…
The fact that the Dutch have created a program to earnestly foster sustainability certification of small, North American forests is a testament to how important Canadian and U.S. wood pellets are—or will be—to cofiring operations in the Netherlands. The Dutch want certified wood pellets from North America, up to 3.5 million metric tons per year,…
While logging is beginning in the Upper Clearwater Valley, residents concerned about potential flood damage and threats to mountain caribou are awaiting an appeal to the federal government and a change in the legislature in Victoria. Trevor Goward, a scientist and one of the community leaders opposed to logging by Canfor, said the legal application…