WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two associations representing dealers of lumber and building materials are opposing tariffs or urging caution on tariff implementation, while a coalition of lumber producers continue to show strong support for President Trump's proposed tariffs on lumber and other materials and goods. 

The North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) released a statement March 24 opposing the tariffs.

"With the recent tariff activity by the Trump Administration, the North American building material supply chain is facing severe disruptions and uncertainty at a crucial time. As a community, and for the reasons stated below, we oppose the implementation of the proposed new tariffs on building materials," the group said in their statement.

The NBMDA said that the tariffs on building materials will result in inflationary pricing, which will end up being passed along to those who drive our business — our customers and, ultimately, the consumer. As the "crucial link in the building material supply chain," distributors are faced with the significant risk of taking on high-priced inventory to maintain supply for their customers. Should tariffs be rescinded, that existing inventory would create a lag effect and continue to keep prices high for months to come.

"These tariffs will stymy demand for building materials and severely hinder the growth of both our communities and the bottom lines of our small businesses," according to the statement.

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) sent a letter to the Trump Administration outlining the need for stability in the lumber and building materials sector. The letter was sent to the White House and to the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer.,

Also in March, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) sent a letter to the Trump Administration outlining the "need for stability in the lumber and building materials sector." The NLBMDA, whose members operate over 6,000 retail stores, sent the letter to the White House and to the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

Since January, the NLBMDA said it has been "closely monitoring the Administration’s dynamic position on tariffs" and have been in continuous contact with aligned trade associations to reinforce the position of the residential construction industry that in order to tackle housing affordability and best serve consumers, our industry requires price stability and long-term certainty.

"The United States has an affordable housing crisis and we as a nation must be focused on advocating for measures that reduce construction costs and eliminate regulatory barriers, policies to the contrary will detract from advancing the construction of affordable housing and create uncertainty throughout the housing market," said NLBMDA President & CEO Jonathan Paine. "We appreciate the actions taken by President Trump to delay previously scheduled tariffs and urge the United States and its trade counterparts to reach a long-term agreement to ensure stability in the housing and construction sector."

The letters to the Administration can be found here.

The letter read, in part: "The U.S.-Canadian lumber and building material industry is predicated on a fundamental understanding that our respective economies flourish when we engage in robust and fair trade between our two nations. Canada has long been a crucial partner in providing the United States with lumber and various building materials. These products are essential to the construction of homes, commercial buildings, and infrastructure across the United States. Canadian lumber and its derivative products —such as engineered wood products—play a key role in meeting the growing demand for new housing and renovation projects. The quality and affordability of these materials have been integral in pursuing our industry’s goal of addressing the affordable housing crisis, an issue that you rightfully recognized on your first day back in the White House." 

The U.S. Lumber Coalition, on the other hand, applauded the tariffs. In a statement earlier this month, the coalition said, “The U.S. Lumber Coalition applauds the Trump Administration’s strong commitment to enforcing the U.S. trade laws against Canadian unfair trade behavior that is killing U.S. jobs by suppressing U.S. lumber production and continued U.S. production capacity increases,” stated Zoltan van Heyningen, U.S. Lumber Coalition Executive Director, adding that “The trade cases must remain in place as long as Canada keeps subsidizing and dumping.”  He further stated that “If Canada does not like the import duties, simply stop engaging in unfair trade and stop violating our trade laws. It’s not complicated.”

According to the coalition, the American lumber industry sits on its highest excess capacity since the Great Recession — capacity that could be used to produce more lumber to build U.S. homes.  Meanwhile, Canadian dumped and unfairly traded lumber imports are trending up.

“The recent rise of unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports has yet again put tremendous pressure and hardship on the workers in the U.S. forestry industry,” stated Andrew Miller, Chairman and Owner of Stimson Lumber. “Canadian companies benefit from the strong support of their federal and provincial governments who are willing to do anything it takes to maintain artificially high market share for Canadian lumber in the U.S. market,” added Miller.

“Canadian lumber producers’ continuous unfair trade practices are forcing idling and closures of U.S. lumber mills. This is why the U.S. lumber industry applauds and strongly supports President Trump’s unyielding stance on fully enforcing the U.S. trade laws,” stated Steve Swanson, Chairman of Swanson Group.

“We strongly agree with the statements by Secretary of Commerce nominee Lutnick that foreign countries like Canada have taken advantage of our markets and that this needs to stop,” added Swanson. “Canada must cease  treating the United States as a dumping ground for its excess lumber production, which amounts to a Canadian jobs program at the expense of American workers, their families, and forestry dependent communities,” concluded Swanson.

“In order to maintain and further grow the U.S. lumber capacity gains achieved since 2016, it is absolutely vital to continue the strong enforcement of the U.S. trade laws against dumped and subsidized Canadian lumber imports,” stated Zoltan van Heyningen, U.S. Lumber Coalition Executive Director.

“Through the enforcement of our trade laws against Canada’s egregiously unfair trade practices in softwood lumber, the U.S. industry has been able to dramatically expand its lumber production capacity. With the continued enforcement of these laws the United States can reach and maintain complete self sufficiency in lumber,” continued van Heyningen, adding “President Trump is absolutely correct that the United States does not need unfairly traded Canadian imports to supply the U.S. market. America has the resources to supply its own lumber. U.S. homes built by U.S. lumber by American workers is a win for our nation.”