A visit to Doggy’s Island Resort and Villa in Yachimata highlighted the growth opportunities for British Columbia wood products in Japan’s tourism sector, which supports the well-paying forestry jobs on which B.C.’s rural communities depend.

Forestry Asia Trade Mission delegates have a better understanding of trends, priorities and Japanese market opportunities for British Columbia wood products after touring a six-storey, 2x4 demonstration project and two-storey cross-laminated timber test house in Tsukuba, Japan, just outside Tokyo.

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson released the following statement on the status of negotiations between Canada and the U.S. on softwood lumber and in response to the U.S. lumber industry filing its petition requesting the U.S. Government launch litigation against the Canadian and provincial governments and forest companies.

The BC Wood Specialties Group (BC Wood), which promotes the use of British Columbian wood products internationally, has a brand-new office and showroom in the heart of Tokyo to highlight the quality of value-added wood products from British Columbia.

Forestry trade mission delegates got a close-up look at how British Columbia’s wood product technology and building expertise is being used in a new elderly care facility in Tokyo, Japan.

Delegates from British Columbia’s 2014 Forestry Asia Trade Mission helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Canada Wood Office and the B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI) establishing a presence in Japan.

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson and delegates on the 2013 Forestry Asia Trade Mission had an action-packed first day in Japan.