Mississippi officials call for fair trade resolution on Canadian timber

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann of Mississippi said the state supports a final resolution from President Donald Trump to ensure fair competition in the timber industry. Recent discussions have focused on Canadian tariffs, which significantly impact Mississippi’s timber sector, one of the state’s key agricultural commodities.

More than 80% of Mississippi’s timber is privately owned. In 2003, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran warned that Canada subsidizes its lumber mills by lowering stumpage prices, enabling them to dump lumber into the U.S. market. The issue persists today, with Canadian provincial governments owning most timber and setting stumpage prices below U.S. levels, according to Cochran’s past statements.

The U.S. Department of Commerce applies countervailing tariffs ranging from 14.52% to 16.15% on Canadian timber. These tariffs reflect the price difference caused by lower Canadian stumpage costs and other factors such as transportation. It often costs less to deliver Canadian lumber to Mississippi dealers than to harvest locally, Cochran noted.

During his tenure as Secretary of State, Hosemann joined Mississippi timber industry representatives in challenging Canadian timber dumping. Much of Mississippi’s timber, including land managed for public schools, faces ongoing legal challenges over these trade practices.

The U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian timber on Oct. 14, 2025, citing national security and the need to protect domestic industry. Mississippi produces about $600 million worth of timber annually, with estimated losses between $30 million and $50 million due to unfair Canadian pricing, Hosemann said. He emphasized that Cochran’s warnings proved accurate and called for federal action to ensure fair competition for Mississippi’s timber industry.

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