NAHB presses White House for lumber price solutions

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that it has engaged in more talks regarding finding a solution to high lumber prices. 

NAHB CEO Jerry Howard and senior NAHB staff on April 29 held a “productive” virtual meeting with White House staff from the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, and the Office of the Vice President, the association said.

The discussion covered mill capacity issues, mill worker shortages, and how soaring lumber prices are exacerbating the housing affordability crisis and putting the American dream of homeownership out of reach of millions of households.

This week, the NAHB reported that the spike in lumber prices is hammering the cost of new single-family homes. According to the NAHB, the current cost of lumber is adding nearly$36,000 to the price a new home compared to a year ago.

NAHB urged the White House to bring together interested stakeholders to hold a summit on lumber and building material supply chain issues and to temporarily remove the 9% tariffs on Canadian lumber to help ease price volatility. The administration was noncommittal on both requests but the door remains open for future talks, the NAHB said.

On the congressional front, NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke and First Vice Chairman Jerry Konter recently met with congressional leaders to urge lawmakers to take steps to ensure an adequate supply of lumber and other building materials to help stem rising housing costs.

NAHB grassroots also is actively engaged in this effort. Members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City have discussed this urgent issue with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Maine builders have brought this to the attention of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as well.

During a Senate appropriations hearing on funding for the office of the U.S. trade representative, the two senators aired their concerns about rising lumber prices and tariffs on Canadian lumber.

“In today’s environment, a most common conversation I have with Kansans is about the expense of buying a home and the expense of building a home and the lack of supply chain regarding lumber and steel,” said Moran, who added that he remains concerned about the harm that tariffs have caused to U.S. families and businesses.

“Where do the negotiations stand with Canada on softwood lumber?” he asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

“Softwood lumber will always be in my sights in the conversations with Canada,” said Kai, who added that she will seek to “engage our Canadian counterparts in some out of the box thinking on this issue and others in terms of how we manage longstanding differences that we have that really make an economic impact for our stakeholders and our economy."