How did British tariffs on timber help New Brunswick’s economy after 1808?

The British decision in 1808 to grant preferential tariffs to timber from its North American colonies significantly bolstered New Brunswick’s economy by providing a vital alternative source of materials. This policy was enacted after Napoleon I’s blockade severed Britain's access to traditional Baltic shipbuilding supplies.1

Because New Brunswick possessed limited agricultural land but vast forests, these tariffs allowed the province to capitalize on its natural resources. This shift ushered in an era of prosperity often referred to as the age of wood, wind, and water, which was defined by a robust economy built on timber exports and the construction of wooden ships.1