NAHB issues a statement on proposed Canadian lumber tariffs

The U.S. Commerce Department's preliminary decision to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 7.7% on Canadian lumber imports generated some buzz in the industry yesterday.

Here's what Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, had to say.

“This latest action by the Commerce Department to impose anti-dumping duties of up to more than 7% on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. is basically another tax on American home builders and home buyers that will jeopardize affordable housing in America.

“Adding this new tariff to the proposed 20% countervailing lumber duty that the Trump administration slapped on imports of lumber this spring means that total tariffs would be a whopping 27%. Given that lumber is a major component in new home construction, the combined duties will harm housing affordability and price countless American households out of the housing market.”

“A robust housing market is essential to stimulate job and economic growth. With the U.S. housing sector regaining its footing, imposing arbitrary protectionist restrictions to subsidize domestic lumber producers will blunt this forward momentum and make homeownership more expensive for hard-working families. Clearly, this is not the way to resolve the U.S.-Canada lumber trade dispute or to boost the American economy.

“The U.S. relies on Canada for approximately one-third of its lumber needs because of the limited domestic timber supply available for harvesting. Policymakers need to take steps to significantly reduce red tape that prevents the U.S. Forest Service from better managing its timber lands and increase the delivery of domestic timber products into the market.”