President Trump Orders Investigation Into Lumber and Timber Imports Ahead of Tariffs

On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Commerce Department to immediately launch an investigation into the national security harm posed by lumber imports, laying the legal groundwork for new tariffs he’s pledged, Bloomberg reported (3-1-25).

The investigation will examine whether exporters like Canada, Germany, and Brazil are dumping lumber into US markets at the expense of American economic prosperity and national security, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The probe will assess the impact of foreign government subsidies, predatory trade practices, and derivative products—and particularly if countries like China are artificially depressing the price of goods like kitchen cabinetry. Trump has previously said he is eyeing 25% tariffs on lumber in the near future, but the official noted the investigation could also lead to regulatory changes easing timber harvesting.

According to Bloomberg, the official declined to say how long the investigation is expected to take but indicated that the Commerce Department would move quickly. The official also declined to say if eventual tariffs that resulted from the probe were additive to Trump’s existing plans to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on other countries, or a 25% levy on Canada and Mexico scheduled to start March 4.

Trump simultaneously signed a second executive order that will focus on streamlining the regulatory permitting process, allowing more harvesting of timber salvage.