The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Sept. 15, edition that after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $500-million to aid Canada's softwood-lumber industry in reducing dependence on the U.S. market, B.C. Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar set what appeared to be a modest target. The Globe's Tim Kiladze writes that Mr. Parmar said, "I think if we are able to take 10 per cent of what we currently ship to the United States and open that up to other markets, we are going to be in a much more competitive position than we are today." Mr. Kiladze says history suggests, however, that even that degree of market diversification stands to be an uphill battle. While there have been modest inroads in China and Japan, diversification has mostly proved quixotic. Mr. Parmar said, "The forestry sector has done an absolutely miserable job as a whole at truly diversifying." Courtesy of President Donald Trump's trade war, there is now greater impetus to get serious about reducing U.S. dependence. Succeeding amidst rising softwood-export competition from Europe, however, will require Canada to maintain a steady focus, reflecting its commitment to reducing U.S. reliance, even beyond the Trump era.