Top Canadian Official Tells NAHB Canada Seeks New Lumber Trade Deal
Mary Ng, Canada’s top trade official, expressed a strong willingness and desire to engage in negotiations with the United States on a new softwood lumber trade agreement during a video conference meeting yesterday with NAHB CEO Jerry Howard and senior staff.
The Canadian trade minister met with her U.S. counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, on July 6 and raised the issue of U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber and the importance of keeping interconnected supply chains open.
The United States is currently imposing 9% tariffs on Canadian lumber shipments into the country and a preliminary decision by the U.S. Commerce Department could result in the tariffs doubling to 18.32% by this fall. NAHB has been urging the Biden administration to move quickly to resume trade talks and has always opposed tariffs on Canadian lumber that exacerbate price volatility and raise housing costs.
Howard testified before Congress on July 14 and said: “Regarding the current lumber crisis, the U.S. must immediately engage with Canada to adopt a new softwood lumber agreement and stop the imposition of harmful tariffs on Canadian lumber.”
NAHB’s meeting with Minister Ng was a positive step forward and we will continue to urge the administration to return to the negotiating table with Canada and hammer out a new softwood lumber trade agreement that will end tariffs and help restore price stability to the lumber market.
Latest from NAHBNow
Dec 04, 2025
Top Color Trends for 2026Neutrals and rich, luxurious hues dominate this year's color trends, along with sophisticated greens. Whether you’re helping a client with a bathroom remodel or searching for fresh ideas for a model home, you can use these color trends for inspiration for your next project. Check out the 2026 Colors of the Year.
Dec 04, 2025
How IBS 2026 Can Provide a Tech-Focused Strategy for Your BusinessTechnology is no longer optional. Whether in estimating, virtual tours, CRM workflows or jobsite visibility, smart tech is a differentiator for your company. Check out these three key tools at the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando to help you get a jumpstart on tech for your business in the coming year.
Latest Economic News
Dec 05, 2025
Mortgage Rates Continue to Trend Lower in NovemberThe average mortgage rate in November continued to trend lower to its lowest level in over a year. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.24% in November, 2 basis points (bps) lower than in October. Meanwhile, the 15-year rate increased 3 bps to 5.51%.
Dec 04, 2025
Number of Bathrooms in New Single-Family Homes in 2024Single-family homes started in 2024 typically had two full bathrooms, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Construction. Homes with three full bathrooms continued to have the second largest share of starts at around 23%. Meanwhile, both homes with four full bathrooms or more and homes with one bathroom or less made up under ten percent of homes started.
Dec 03, 2025
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: Third Quarter 2025House prices continued to rise in the third quarter of 2025, though the pace of growth slowed as elevated mortgage rates, affordability challenges, and persistent economic uncertainty weighed on consumer demand. After several years of rapid growth, Hawaii and 38 metro areas saw house price declines this quarter, highlighting significant regional variations in market conditions.