California homebuilders say they have few options but to keep buying Canadian lumber, even if it91裸聊视频檚 hit with 25 per cent tariffs, as they rebuild thousands of homes destroyed by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

Dan Dunmoyer, president of the California Building Industry Association, said Wednesday that 91裸聊视频渢here aren91裸聊视频檛 really alternatives91裸聊视频� to Canadian lumber used for homebuilding in the state because about 80 per cent of Californian land is owned by the federal or state governments and can91裸聊视频檛 be logged.

Dunmoyer also said California lacks mills, environmental policies and supply chains that would allow a quick switch to local lumber production, and making those changes would likely take years.

91裸聊视频淲e are very dependent on Canadian lumber,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e like Canadian lumber. It91裸聊视频檚 super high-quality, properly harvested for the environment. It91裸聊视频檚 really quality material.

91裸聊视频淚 understand from a president or a prime minister91裸聊视频檚 perspective, it91裸聊视频檚 all about jobs. It91裸聊视频檚 all about making sure your people have an income and a lifestyle, the quality of life, that91裸聊视频檚 enjoyable 91裸聊视频� But to try to do this over a weekend and say, 91裸聊视频楬ey, we just want to put these big tariffs on any country without creating the economy within your own country,91裸聊视频� (it) just means higher prices, full stop, full period.91裸聊视频�

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian exports that would boost softwood lumber levies to almost 40 per cent when existing duties of 14.4 per cent are taken into account.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump said on Monday that the tariffs were on hold for 30 days.

The forestry sector in British Columbia and across Canada have described the proposed tariffs as unnecessary and unwarranted, given that the United States currently meets only about 70 per cent of its homebuilding lumber needs domestically while using Canadian lumber to fill the gap.

The U.S. raised duties on softwood lumber from Canada last August.

Trump said on Jan. 30 that the U.S. did not need foreign lumber and 91裸聊视频渨e have all the trees you need.91裸聊视频�

On Wednesday, the provincial government in B.C. announced it had formed a new council consisting of industry, labour, U.S.-relations expertise and government voices to advance the province91裸聊视频檚 interests in the softwood lumber dispute.

The province says the new council will provide 91裸聊视频渞ecommendations on steps B.C. can take to eliminate the 14.4% softwood lumber duties91裸聊视频� and held its first meeting on Jan. 30.

91裸聊视频淭he U.S. has imposed unjustified softwood lumber duties on Canada for years, and we anticipate that they will likely double before the end of this year,91裸聊视频� said B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar in a statement. 91裸聊视频淏ringing this team together, I am ready to throw the full weight of B.C. in the ring to fight these duties.91裸聊视频�

Dunmoyer said that even if the new tariffs were imposed, switching from Canadian wood to U.S. timber wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be any cheaper for California homebuilders.

He said the recent devastating wildfires in Southern California had accelerated already high demand for new housing, and Trump91裸聊视频檚 tariff threat could not have come at a worse time for the industry.

91裸聊视频淭he demand for housing before the fires was off the charts,91裸聊视频� Dunmoyer said. 91裸聊视频淲e have projects where we have 35 homes available and 500 people in a waiting list, but that was before the fires.

91裸聊视频淲ith the fires, it just increases that demand substantially. And the other thing, which is somewhat intuitive, is it increases the demand immediately so it91裸聊视频檚 not like a ramp-up. You91裸聊视频檝e got 15,000 displaced families who immediately need a home. And we don91裸聊视频檛 produce that many homes on a monthly basis in California to meet that demand alone.

91裸聊视频淭he timing is horrific. It91裸聊视频檚 horrible. It91裸聊视频檚 like, why would we add to the cost of housing when we desperately need more housing?91裸聊视频�

January91裸聊视频檚 wildfires around Los Angeles destroyed or damaged as many as 19,000 homes and other structures.