The U.S. Commerce Department announced that it is 聽from 6.74% to 14.63%.
This move comes just two weeks after the Commerce Department announced it is聽聽from 7.66% to 20.56% following its annual review of existing tariffs.
As a result of these actions, countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber have jumped from 14.5% to 35%. The higher anti-dumping duties are now in effect, and the new countervailing rate will become effective when the announcement is made in the Federal Register, which is expected to occur next week.
Although NAHB officials said they are disappointed by this decision to raise lumber tariffs, it 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.
Tariffs on Canadian lumber could go much higher before the end of the month. President Trump in March directed the Commerce Department to launch a separate investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which is examining whether lumber imports represent a threat to national security.
The Commerce Department is expected to announce the results of its Section 232 investigation before the end of this month. If the Trump administration finds that lumber imports pose a threat to national security and elects to impose lumber tariffs under Section 232, this universal tariff would apply to all nations. In Canada鈥檚 case, where lumber tariffs already total 35%, a new lumber tariff stemming from the Section 232 investigation would be tacked on to the existing 35% tariff.
NAHB officials said they have been leading the fight against lumber tariffs because of their detrimental effect on . In effect, the lumber tariffs act as a tax on American builders, home buyers and consumers, per the organization.
With housing affordability already near a historic low, NAHB continues to call on the administration to carefully consider how placing additional tariffs on lumber and other building materials will raise housing prices and impact housing supply.
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