Wildfire victims feel the burden of lumber tariffs
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CALIFORNIA - Over 1,200 homes have been destroyed by wildfires in California so far in 2018.
 
And due to increased tariffs, those wildfire victims are having to deal with higher construction costs. So are victims whose homes were ruined by Hurricane Harvey last year in Texas. The hurricane flooded 300,000 structures in the state.
 
In early November, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the final determination of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber.
 
Reactions from the U.S. were positive and from Canada were negative. The combined final determination rates as announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce are: Canfor 22.13 percent; Resolute 17.90 percent; Tolko 22.07; W. Fraser 23.76 percent; Irving 9.92 percent; All Others 20.83 percent. 
 
Tariffs averaging just over 20 percent on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. are exacerbating market volatility, putting upward pressure on lumber prices and harming housing affordability, says the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
 
The NAHB reported that lumber prices between January 2017 and now are enough to increase the average price of a single-family home by $6,388 and a multifamily housing unit by $2,430. These costs will have to be incurred by both the builder and the consumer. Those prices could be even higher in California, says the California Building Industry Association, who says that tariffs alone could add $8,000 to $10,000 to the lumber costs of a single-family home. Upwards of $10,000 could be added for steel products like nails, fasteners, and wire mesh.
 
The NAHB has been critical of the tariffs, urging Congress to show greater urgency on resolving the issue and to resume its negotiations with Canada immediately.
 
"We continue to urge the administration and Congress to seek out a long-term solution to the ongoing lumber trade impasse that will ensure a lasting and stable supply of lumber imports into the U.S. at a competitive price," says the NAHB on their website. "At the same time, we continue to explore all avenues to boost domestic production and increase access to foreign timber markets."
 
Rob Dietz, NAHB chief economist, told Fox Business that typically the price of labor, interest rates and the availability of land are the main variables determining the cost of new home construction, with the price of materials and local fees also having an effect.
 
"Now, lumber and labor are the top two," he said.
 
 
“Right now, I would say there’s probably not much going on in terms of those negotiations,” said Lighthizer at a policy meeting. “Are they part of NAFTA? Not as far as I am concerned. As far as I am concerned this a function of the trade laws working the way Congress designed them to work.”
 
The answer comes after Texas Representative Kenny Merchant said that Texas homebuilders are concerned that lumber tariffs have escalated lumber prices by 40 to 60 percent over the past year. Merchant asked if there was relief in site.
 
“To me, it is unlikely I think, I wouldn’t put it at zero but it’s unlikely that I’m going to end up solving this issue or trying to resolve this issue,” Lighthizer added. “Right now the positions are kind of intractable.”
 
Canada's softwood lumber exports to the U.S. have declined 8 percent since the duties were imposed, but because the wood itself is worth more, the industry hasn't suffered.
 
VP of international trade and transportation for the Forest Products Association of Canada Joel Neuheimer said the higher price of wood and the insatiable demand from U.S. builders is helping keep the duties from pushing companies to lay off staff, cut production or even close down.
 
 

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About the author
Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].