Canadian Industrial Outlook: Wood Products—Autumn 2018

Boomer Departures—One in five of the industry’s workers is expected to retire over the coming decade. To replenish its future workforce, the industry will look to invest in labour-saving technologies. It will also attempt to expand the diversity of its workforce.

Record Year for Profits—Against the backdrop of unprecedented price growth, industry profits are forecast to grow by 17 per cent in 2018 and reach a record $3.9 billion. The industry’s strong current financial standing is expected to stimulate a pickup in capital expenditures over the near and medium terms.

Dispute Settlement Mechanism Endures—The dispute resolution processes (previously Chapter 19 under NAFTA) will remain intact under the CUSMA (Chapter 10). This mechanism, which allows Canadian businesses to challenge anti-dumping and countervailing duty determinations in front of a binational panel, is critical to maintain a rules-based trading system.