The U.S. Department of Commerce has signaled that it plans to lower antidumping and countervailing tariffs later this year on imports of Canadian softwood lumber products from the current rate of about 35.16% to 24.83% following its annual review of existing tariffs.

This decision is part of the regularly scheduled review process the United States employs to ensure adequate relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade practices.

Commerce indicated that it would set antidumping duties at 10.66% vs. the current rate of 20.56% and countervailing duties at 14.17% (currently 14.63%), bringing the combined rate down from 35.16% to 24.83%.

The Department of Commerce initiated its seventh administrative reviews of its softwood lumber anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders last year and announced its preliminary findings of these reviews on April 13. The agency is expected to issue its final results in 120 days, at which time the lower duties will take effect.

For years, NAHB has been leading the fight against lumber tariffs because of their detrimental effect on housing affordability. In effect, the lumber tariffs act as a tax on American builders, home buyers and consumers.

With housing affordability already near a historic low, NAHB continues to call on the Trump administration to suspend tariffs on Canadian lumber imports and other building materials into the United States and to move immediately to enter into negotiations with Canada on a new softwood lumber agreement that will eliminate tariffs altogether. And we continue to work with our allies in Congress to put pressure on the administration to take action.