U.S. Lumber Coalition Critiques Wall Street Journal on Softwood Lumber Opinion Piece
The U.S. Lumber Coalition has voiced its disappointment in a recent editorial published by the Wall Street Journal, which they feel perpetuates outdated narratives about Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The Coalition, represented by Andrew Miller, the Chairman and President of Stimson Lumber Company, argues that these claims ignore the realities of the lumber market and the impact of U.S. trade laws.
Since 2016, American lumber mills have significantly increased their production capacity, adding eight billion board feet to their output, and producing 30 billion additional board feet of softwood lumber. This growth has effectively compensated for any decline in Canadian imports that are perceived as unfairly traded, thus reinforcing domestic supply lines for U.S. home construction.
Miller stated, "We were disappointed reading the recent editorial that repeats tired old Canada First talking points on the issue of unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports." He emphasized that the U.S. market does not require these imports, highlighting that the proportion of Canadian lumber in the U.S. market is at its lowest level in decades. Rather, the domestic mills are now capable of fulfilling the demand, enabled by strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws designed to protect American jobs.
The editorial further suggests that the costs associated with lumber imports have led to increased housing prices, a claim that Miller refutes. He mentions that from 2019 to the third quarter of 2024, despite the overall median new house prices rising by 32%, the softwood lumber prices have only seen an increase of 8.8%. Moreover, he points out that the total cost of lumber represents only about 1.3% of the total expenditure on an average new home.
Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition, added to this perspective by stating that the cost of lumber does not significantly influence new home prices given the much larger contributions of other materials, which have increased in price at a greater rate.
Furthermore, Miller criticized the Wall Street Journal's mention of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as lacking an understanding of the rigorous processes that the U.S. trade laws involve. He noted that Canadian interests are represented robustly within the legal processes governing trade disputes, and that Canada has the option to engage in fair trade practices to alleviate concerns over dumping and subsidies.
As a conclusion, the Coalition calls upon the Wall Street Journal to thoroughly examine the issue before publishing opinions that deal with such inherently complex topics. It emphasizes the importance of representing the hard work of American lumber producers who contribute to building homes in the U.S.
The U.S. Lumber Coalition represents an alliance of softwood lumber producers across the country, advocating for equitable trade practices to address the harms inflicted by Canada's trade policies. Their mission is to ensure that American industries can compete fairly while serving the needs of construction and homebuilding markets. For those interested in the Coalition's work and policies, further information can be found on their website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.
Contact: Zoltan van Heyningen
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-805-9133
Since 2016, American lumber mills have significantly increased their production capacity, adding eight billion board feet to their output, and producing 30 billion additional board feet of softwood lumber. This growth has effectively compensated for any decline in Canadian imports that are perceived as unfairly traded, thus reinforcing domestic supply lines for U.S. home construction.
Miller stated, "We were disappointed reading the recent editorial that repeats tired old Canada First talking points on the issue of unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports." He emphasized that the U.S. market does not require these imports, highlighting that the proportion of Canadian lumber in the U.S. market is at its lowest level in decades. Rather, the domestic mills are now capable of fulfilling the demand, enabled by strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws designed to protect American jobs.
The editorial further suggests that the costs associated with lumber imports have led to increased housing prices, a claim that Miller refutes. He mentions that from 2019 to the third quarter of 2024, despite the overall median new house prices rising by 32%, the softwood lumber prices have only seen an increase of 8.8%. Moreover, he points out that the total cost of lumber represents only about 1.3% of the total expenditure on an average new home.
Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition, added to this perspective by stating that the cost of lumber does not significantly influence new home prices given the much larger contributions of other materials, which have increased in price at a greater rate.
Furthermore, Miller criticized the Wall Street Journal's mention of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as lacking an understanding of the rigorous processes that the U.S. trade laws involve. He noted that Canadian interests are represented robustly within the legal processes governing trade disputes, and that Canada has the option to engage in fair trade practices to alleviate concerns over dumping and subsidies.
As a conclusion, the Coalition calls upon the Wall Street Journal to thoroughly examine the issue before publishing opinions that deal with such inherently complex topics. It emphasizes the importance of representing the hard work of American lumber producers who contribute to building homes in the U.S.
The U.S. Lumber Coalition represents an alliance of softwood lumber producers across the country, advocating for equitable trade practices to address the harms inflicted by Canada's trade policies. Their mission is to ensure that American industries can compete fairly while serving the needs of construction and homebuilding markets. For those interested in the Coalition's work and policies, further information can be found on their website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.
Contact: Zoltan van Heyningen
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-805-9133
Topics General Business）
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