#USA #Washington #Tariffs #U.S. Lumber Coalition #Canadian Softwood Lumber

U.S. Department of Commerce Acts on Canadian Softwood Lumber

In a significant development for the U.S. lumber sector, the Department of Commerce has revealed its preliminary finding of a 14.38% anti-subsidy rate in the sixth annual review regarding Canadian softwood lumber imports. This announcement, which unfolds amid ongoing trade tensions, suggests a combined anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate of 34.45% for the year 2023.

According to Andrew Miller, Chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and Owner of Stimson Lumber Company, these unfair trade practices by Canada are causing severe damage to the U.S. lumber industry. He stated that the Canadian market is artificially inflating its share in the U.S. market, compelling American companies to limit their production and ultimately jeopardizing American jobs.

Miller expressed support for the enforcement of U.S. trade laws by the Trump Administration, emphasizing the importance of these regulations in preventing Canadian lumber from undermining U.S. industry standards. He believes that this enforcement is crucial for maintaining a robust domestic supply chain that can support American jobs in the lumber industry.

Addressing the perception that reduced prices on Canadian lumber benefit U.S. consumers, Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition, clarified that this so-called 'affordable' lumber is often dumped at prices significantly below market value. Such practices ultimately harm American families who depend on a stable lumber market for housing.

Furthermore, van Heyningen pointed out that enforcement of U.S. trade laws could increase the domestic supply of lumber for new home construction without affecting housing prices significantly. He emphasized that lumber costs represent only a small fraction of the overall price of new homes, stating, "Lumber, including delivery and distributor's markup, makes up only 1.7% of the price of a new home. Duties on Canadian Lumber make up a mere 0.04% of the total cost."

In light of these findings, the U.S. Lumber Coalition urges for continuous enforcement of trade laws to safeguard domestic production and availability of lumber. This move could lead to the U.S. fulfilling its own lumber needs, thereby enhancing homebuilding capacities across the nation.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is a collective of various softwood lumber producers from across the country, advocating against Canada's alleged unfair lumber trade practices. Its mission is to address these trade issues and ensure a level playing field for U.S. lumber producers, which they argue is essential for growth within the industry.

For more information about the coalition and its initiatives, visit www.uslumbercoalition.org.

As this situation evolves, stakeholders within the U.S. lumber community continue to evaluate the ramifications of Canadian practices on the domestic market, reinforcing the importance of vigilance in trade policy enforcement.