National Association of Home Builders Seeks Meeting with Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross in Regards Current Lumber Prices

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), near record and record high lumber prices, supply chain disruptions, along with U.S. imposed tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports are all contributing to price volatility in the marketplace. As a result, the NAHB has sent letters to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and Zoltan van Heyningen, executive director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition about the ongoing situation. The NAHB, in particular, is asking for meetings with Sec. Ross and Trade Representative Lighthizer, to discuss strategies to ease market concerns for builders and consumers alike. Tariffs on Canadian lumber imports into the U.S. average more than 20%. The NAHB is calling on Ross and Lighthizer to return to the negotiating table with Canada and redouble efforts to reach a new softwood lumber agreement. NAHB is also requesting the secretary to reach out to domestic lumber producers and urge them to increase lumber production to address shortages that are contributing to soaring prices.