Homebuilders staring down 40% tariff on Canadian lumber

In renewing a name that constructing supplies be exempt from tariffs, commerce group notes that greater than 70 p.c of imported softwood lumber and gypsum used for drywall comes from Canada and Mexico.

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A 25 p.c tariff on Canadian and Mexican items introduced by the Trump administration on Saturday can be on prime of duties already in place on Canadian lumber, that means homebuilders may quickly see the worth of Canadian lumber rise by 40 p.c, the Nationwide Affiliation of House Builders (NAHB) warned Monday.

In renewing calls that constructing supplies be exempt from tariffs, the NAHB mentioned greater than 70 p.c of imported softwood lumber and gypsum used for drywall comes from Canada and Mexico.

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“On President Trump’s first day in office, he issued an executive order directing departments and agencies to deliver emergency price relief by pursuing actions to lower the cost of housing and increase housing supply. This move to raise tariffs by 25 percent on Canadian and Mexican goods will have the opposite effect,” NAHB Chairman Carl Harris mentioned in a assertion Monday.

Trump mentioned Monday on Fact Social that the U.S. has agreed to place tariffs on Mexican items on maintain for one month after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to ship 10,000 troops to the Southern border. Trump additionally mentioned discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are ongoing.

Canada introduced Monday that it plans to impose 25 p.c tariffs on $30 billion in U.S. items beginning Tuesday.

“Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices,” the NAHB mentioned in its assertion Monday. “NAHB urges the administration to reconsider this action on tariffs, and we will continue to work with policymakers to eliminate barriers that make housing more costly and prevent builders from boosting housing production.”

Editor’s be aware: Trudeau introduced Monday night that “I just had a good call with President Trump” and that proposed tariffs “will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

Electronic mail Matt Carter