LONDON, ENGLAND — The Government of B.C. has revealed efforts are underway to diversify the province’s forestry sector with a new office in London, England.

The office will be a hub to expand its market share across Europe and the United Kingdom.

“British Columbia is the second largest exporter of softwood lumber in the world, and with U.S. President Donald Trump’s continued attacks on our forestry workers and economy, we are not sitting idly by,” said Ravi Parmar, minister of forests, in a statement. “We are making it easier for our friends across the pond to buy our world-class lumber, and we are supporting our forestry sector to get boots on the ground in more growing wood markets around the world.”

B.C.’s Crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), will be expanding its presence to the U.K. to work with the industry there, around Europe, and eventually, select markets in the Middle East and northern Africa, a release notes.

“Expanding into the U.K. reflects FII’s commitment to building resilient, diversified markets for B.C. forest products,” said Rick Doman, board chair of FII. “The current trade-impeding U.S. duties and tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber underscore the importance of reducing reliance on any single market. Together with industry, we’re determined to re-establish B.C.’s foothold in the U.K. and drive growth across Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region.”

FII already has offices in China, India and Vietnam, and industry-led offices in Japan and South Korea.

FII also leads research on advancements in wood technology, working with international governments and policy-makers on policies and regulations to encourage wood use in new and existing markets.