The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) met with senior officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce last week to discuss the Biden administration’s recent decision to double countervailing and antidumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports from 9% to 18% as well as ongoing supply chain concerns in the lumber market.

After the meeting, the NLBMDA released the following statement:

“NLBMDA had a constructive meeting with the Department of Commerce to reiterate our industry’s concerns regarding new softwood lumber tariffs, price volatility and supply chain disruptions,” said NLBMDA president and CEO Jonathan Paine. “NLBMDA discussed the impact these obstacles are having on LBM dealers and the availability of affordable housing across the United States. NLBMDA urged the Biden administration to negotiate a new long-term softwood lumber agreement with Canada and pursue other free market solutions to the supply chain crisis.”