Trump's tariffs could shutter this Canadian town - its residents are fighting to save it

What the report says

A century-old paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, has been shut indefinitely after the US imposed 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods, including wood and paper products. BBC World News reported that the plant, owned by US-based Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM), employs about 360 people and is the town’s main economic anchor. Most workers are now out of work, with some receiving partial pay through government tariff-relief measures while the community braces for wider fallout.

The mill closure is already affecting the small northern Quebec town, where residents say the business is tied closely to local identity and services. According to the BBC, property values have fallen and some fear job losses could spread beyond the plant to grocery stores, contractors, trucking firms and even local healthcare workers. The mill’s products are heavily export-oriented, with about three-quarters of production sold into the US market.

Local workers, union leaders and the mayor are organizing to try to buy the plant back, echoing a 1970s rescue effort when employees helped take over the mill. They say any purchase would likely require support from the federal and Quebec governments. The BBC also noted broader debate in Canada over whether Ottawa is doing enough for forestry communities hit by US tariffs, even as it has announced support measures for some other sectors. RYAM said it would not comment on a possible sale.