The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) met with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s senior staff and other high-ranking Commerce Department officials late last week to discuss the ongoing concerns regarding lumber price volatility and the lumber and building material (LBM) industry. Association leadership was feeling positive after the meeting, as indicated in a statement released in the aftermath.

“NLBMDA, as the national voice of the LBM industry, had a highly productive meeting with Secretary Raimondo’s office and we are confident in her department’s willingness to find workable solutions to address ongoing price volatility,” said NLBMDA president and CEO Jonathan Paine. “We had a very positive and frank discussion about our industry’s concerns, specifically trade barriers to a free market, and the need to reengage in a new Softwood Lumber Agreement. Secretary Raimondo’s staff was receptive to our concerns and expressed a desire to work closely with NLBMDA to find a resolution to the ongoing lumber price volatility. We appreciate Secretary Raimondo’s willingness to examine all aspects of the construction supply chain and NLBMDA looks forward to engaging the Commerce Department’s request for a series of follow-up conversations with us in the weeks ahead.”

The meeting included six officials from the U.S. Department of commerce and four from the NLBMDA:

• Chief Counselor to the Secretary, Office of the Secretary;
• Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, International Trade Administration;
• Chief Economist, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs;
• Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary;
• Director of Public Engagement, Office of the Secretary;
• Deputy Director of Public Engagement, Office of the Secretary;
• Jim Bishop, NLBMDA board of directors chairman;
• Jonathan Paine, NLBMDA president and CEO;
• Kevin McKenney, NLBMDA director of government affairs; and
• Alex McIntyre, NLBMDA legislative and regulatory coordinator