The US Commerce Department has announced its preliminary decision on imports of Canadian softwood lumber and is set to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 7.7%
The US Commerce Department has announced its preliminary decision on imports of Canadian softwood lumber and is set to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 7.7%
The move has been slammed by Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, who says it will hit the US housing market.
“This latest action by the Commerce Department to impose anti-dumping duties of up to more than 7% on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. is basically another tax on American home builders and home buyers that will jeopardize affordable housing in America.”
Mr Granger added that the proposed duty would add to the 20% tariff introduced by the Trump administration earlier this year, increasing costs of Canadian lumber imports by 27%.
“A robust housing market is essential to stimulate job and economic growth. With the U.S. housing sector regaining its footing, imposing arbitrary protectionist restrictions to subsidize domestic lumber producers will blunt this forward momentum and make homeownership more expensive for hard-working families,” he warned.
Canadian imports are essential for homebuilding as domestic producers are restricted by U.S. Forestry Service rules and Mr Granger says that red tape should be cut to allow greater production of American timber.
The move has been slammed by Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, who says it will hit the US housing market.
“This latest action by the Commerce Department to impose anti-dumping duties of up to more than 7% on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. is basically another tax on American home builders and home buyers that will jeopardize affordable housing in America.”
Mr Granger added that the proposed duty would add to the 20% tariff introduced by the Trump administration earlier this year, increasing costs of Canadian lumber imports by 27%.
“A robust housing market is essential to stimulate job and economic growth. With the U.S. housing sector regaining its footing, imposing arbitrary protectionist restrictions to subsidize domestic lumber producers will blunt this forward momentum and make homeownership more expensive for hard-working families,” he warned.
Canadian imports are essential for homebuilding as domestic producers are restricted by U.S. Forestry Service rules and Mr Granger says that red tape should be cut to allow greater production of American timber.
