B.C. and feds enter lumber understanding with China during Carney visit | CBC News

"British Columbia's Forests Ministry has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government to boost research, development and promotion of modern wood construction in creating green buildings in China. The five-year agreement, which is not legally binding, also involves the federal Department of Natural Resources and is among the first reached with Beijing after the arrival of Prime Minister Mark Carney in China this week."

"On the other side is China's housing and development ministry, with the memo agreeing on cooperation on the integration of modern wood construction into China's urban renewal and rural revitalization strategies and exploring "practical approaches" for green developments. It says another goal is to strengthen development of an "industrial chain" for wood construction. The deal also calls for exchanges and joint research on modern wood construction involving tall wood buildings and mass timber projects."

"B.C., in particular, has faced major job losses in the forest industry over the past several years due in part to duties placed on Canadian lumber headed into the United States, as well as a lack of access to profitable fibre supply. Carney is in China for the first visit to the country by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years, with other deals signed today covering topics such as energy and food safety."

British Columbia's Forests Ministry signed a five-year, non-legally binding memorandum of understanding with China's housing and development ministry to support modern wood construction and green buildings. The agreement involves the federal Department of Natural Resources and targets integration of modern wood construction into urban renewal and rural revitalization strategies while exploring "practical approaches" for green developments. The memo aims to strengthen an "industrial chain" for wood construction and promotes exchanges and joint research on tall wood buildings and mass timber projects. B.C. has experienced major forest-industry job losses partly due to U.S. lumber duties and limited fibre access, and the agreement coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China.

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