U.S. Expected to Increase Lumber Tariffs This Summer

Material Costs
Published
Contact: Alex Strong
[email protected]
Senior Director, Federal Legislative
(202) 266-8279

The U.S. Department of Commerce has signaled that it plans to raise tariffs later this year on imports of Canadian softwood lumber products from the current rate of 8.05% to about 14% following its annual review of existing tariffs.

Although NAHB is disappointed by this action, this decision is part of the regularly scheduled review process the United States employs to ensure adequate relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade practices.

The Department of Commerce initiated its fifth administrative reviews of its softwood lumber anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders last March and announced its preliminary findings of these reviews at the beginning of this month. The agency is expected to issue its final results later this summer or early fall, at which time the higher duties will take effect.

For years, NAHB has been leading the fight against lumber tariffs because of their detrimental effect on housing affordability. In effect, the lumber tariffs act as a tax on American builders, home buyers and consumers.

With housing affordability already near a historic low, NAHB continues to call on the Biden administration to suspend tariffs on Canadian lumber imports into the United States and to move immediately to enter into negotiations with Canada on a new softwood lumber agreement that will eliminate tariffs altogether. And we continue to work with our allies in Congress to put pressure on the administration to take action.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Workforce Development | Student Chapters

Jun 09, 2025

NAHB HBCU Student Leaders Expand Skills with Impressive Residential Construction Internships

This summer, two student leaders from NAHB's HBCU leadership program cohort are learning the intricacies of home building and achieving their professional dreams.

Legislative | Environmental Issues

Jun 06, 2025

Bill Championed by NAHB Would Address Major Flood Mapping Issue in California, Nationwide

Legislation that NAHB has been seeking for two years that would allow new housing developments to go forward in California and bring down insurance costs for home buyers and home owners was introduced in Congress today.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jun 09, 2025

AI’s Role in Reshaping Employment: From Theory to Home Building Sector Impacts

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning and generative AI (GenAI), is reshaping industries, creating new economic opportunities, and raising critical questions about its long-term impact on jobs and economic growth.

Economics

Jun 06, 2025

U.S. Economy Added 139,000 Jobs in May

Despite ongoing economic and policy uncertainty, the labor market remains resilient, though early signs of softening are beginning to emerge. Job growth moderated in May, and employment figures for March and April were notably revised downward. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%.

Economics

Jun 05, 2025

States with Highest and Fastest Rising Construction Wages, 2025

Wage growth in construction continued to decelerate in April on a national basis, but the differences across regional markets remain stark.