The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Aug. 8, edition that Canada's softwood lumber industry is welcoming a $1.2-billion federal support package aimed at diversifying trade partners amid an ongoing trade war with the U.S. The Globe's Jeffrey Jones writes that the measures, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, include promoting Canadian wood products internationally and prioritizing domestic lumber in housing construction. Despite these efforts, officials warn that exporters are still tied to the U.S., which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of softwood exports. The industry has struggled with increasing duties from the U.S. and threats of additional tariffs as overall exports have declined sharply over the past decade. Resolving the long-running trade dispute with the U.S. remains a top priority, but the new measures will make sure mills keep operating and employees keep working, said Forest Products Association of Canada vice-president Eric Johnson. He said: "We're never going to diversify our way out of the U.S. The history, the proximity, the product qualities and their sheer demand -- the economics just don't allow for that. But finding ways to lessen our reliance on them, that's what this will do."