U.S. Lumber Coalition Applauds Trump Administration's Strong Enforcement of the U.S. Trade Laws Against Egregious Levels of Unfair Trade by Canada In Softwood Lumber

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the preliminary anti-dumping duty rate of 20.07% in the sixth annual review of unfairly traded Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States. The review covers lumber imported in calendar year 2023.

"The higher preliminary duty level announced by the Commerce Department demonstrates the severity of dumping and frankly disgraceful behavior by Canadian exporters in the U.S. market," emphasized Andrew Miller, Chairman/Owner of Stimson Lumber and Chair of the U.S. Lumber Coalition. "Canada's unfair trade practices come at the direct expense of U.S. companies, workers, and communities," added Miller.

President Trump recognizes the impact on the domestic supply chain of imported lumber being dumped in the U.S. market and has also initiated a separate investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

"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." Mr. van Heyningen 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."

"Canada undoubtedly will cry foul at the duties announced today by the Commerce Department, but the fact is the duties simply offset the massive and egregious dumping and predatory pricing behavior by Canadian companies trying to displace U.S. production and jobs," continued Miller.

"Canada is desperate to maintain its market share in the United States to unload their excess lumber, and they are clearly willing to do so by any means necessary all while trying to scare the public into believing that we need Canadian lumber, even if that lumber is traded unfairly. We can produce it in the United States," said Jason Brochu, Co-President of Pleasant River Lumber.

"The American lumber industry and forestry sector today has the capacity to supply nearly all U.S. lumber demand, and with continued strong trade law enforcement can reach 100 percent over time. The United States has the natural resources to support this industry, we just need to keep Canada's unfair trade practices off the back of U.S. workers and companies," added Brochu.

Increased U.S. capacity through the enforcement of the U.S. trade laws means that today the United States can supply the vast majority of its own lumber needs. U.S. mills have added 6.7 billion board feet of capacity since 2016 in the form of new mills and expansions of existing mills. The U.S. industry has produced 30 billion additional board feet of softwood lumber during this period. These increases have more than offset any decline in unfairly traded Canadian imports and are enough lumber to build two million single-family homes.

"Continued strong enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to level the playing field against unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports is exactly what must happen to keep expanding U.S. lumber manufacturing and availability to build more American homes," concluded Miller.

Enforcing the U.S. trade laws helps increase the U.S. supply of lumber to build American homes, all without impacting the cost of a new home, as demonstrated by data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Fastmarkets Random Lengths.

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition
The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices. The Coalition supports the full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to allow the U.S. industry to invest and grow to its natural size without being impaired by unfairly traded imports. Continued full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws will strengthen domestic supply lines by maximizing long-term domestic production and lumber availability produced by U.S. workers to build U.S. homes. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen
[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition