He’s the Gallant government’s shiny new hire.
David Wilkins is the special envoy on trade and softwood lumber and he was introduced to media in Saint John by Premier Brian Gallant and Treasury Board president Roger Melanson.
We asked Wilkins if he has heard from American homebuilders about the impact of softwood lumbers tariffs on U.S. house prices and he told us he hasn’t yet but he expects too.
He says there a lot of estimates that the cost of a home in the U.S. could go up $1200 to $1500 so it has an impact on our consumers and retailers.
Tariffs cost the American consumer money.
Wilkins says the ultimate goal is to get a permanent negotiated solution that includes a Maritime exclusion.
If they can’t do that, Wilkins says they would like the tariff in New Brunswick reduced to 3 per cent.
